AS a young Scottish left-back, Josh Doig isn’t short of role models. Aside from teammate and Hibernian legend Lewis Stevenson – who he has kept out of the side for the most part this season – he has been tipped to follow in the footsteps of compatriots Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney and make the step up to the English Premier League.
John Collins believes he should take his cue from the last name on that list though, and not be too eager to jump at the first opportunity that arises south of the border.
By the time Tierney left Celtic for Arsenal, he was 22 and had a wealth of experience under his belt despite his tender years. As a result, he was ready to slot straight into the Arsenal first-team.
Doig will turn 19 later this month, and has one full season in the Scottish Premiership under his belt, giving Collins cause for concern that he may find that precious top-level experience hard to come by should he be tempted by the bright lights at this early stage in his career.
He has no doubt in his mind that Doig can go on and emulate Tierney’s success in England, but he thinks he should follow his example in order to do so.
"Doig has been the highlight of the season so far,” Collins said.
“I've enjoyed watching his appetite, his desire to get forward. He's a player that when you watch him, he 100 percent sprints up and back. That's something you don't often see and it catches your eye. He's got that desire to get up and support.
"For his first season, he's done a terrific job. There's still a long way for him to go. He still has to work on his final delivery into the box but he has shown enormous potential and has taken over from Lewis Stevenson and done a great job for the team.
"It is hard to knock back big offers but I've always felt for a professional footballer the most important thing is the first-team jersey.
"You can go somewhere and get more money but if you are sitting on the bench or in the stand, life isn't quite as fun.
"It's about getting the balance right. The financial rewards will be there but it's about choosing the right moment and time to go. So many times we see players move too early and they disappear. These English clubs have huge squads and they just stock up on young talent with potential.
"A great example for Doig is Kieran Tierney. He was a regular for many years at Celtic and then moved to Arsenal at the right time. It was good money for Celtic and good wages for Kieran.
"But most important of all, he is a first-team player at Arsenal. He didn't go as a squad player too young.”
Collins knows of what he speaks, having been in a similar position to Doig in the early stages of his own playing career, with clubs from England keen to land him from a young age.
He eventually left Easter Road for Celtic at the age of 22, and felt ready for the step up as a result.
"Looking back, I think I made the right decision,” he said.
"English clubs were interested in me at Hibs and it never happened. But I was delighted because I got experience and there is nothing more important for a young player than playing every single week.
"That's how you develop. You work day in, day out at training but if you aren't getting that 90-minute test every week your development gets curtailed in my opinion.
"I took advice from family, managers and coaches back then. But you make the final decision and you have to make sure you do what is right for yourself.
"The advice I always give is, 'If you believe in your ability and you think you are a good player, don't rush it'.”
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