Holt eager to step from stands into cup final side Published on Saturday 28 April 2012 04:24 JASON Holt was a 13-year-old spectator at Hampden the last time Hearts were in the Scottish Cup final. Six years on, he hopes to play his way into manager Paulo Sergio's plans for next month's showpiece against Hibernian. The midfielder was already on the books at Tynecastle in 2006, when Hearts beat Gretna in the final. In fact, having signed at the age of nine, he was a veteran of the club's youth wing. Now, having graduated from the under-19s to the fringes of the first-team squad, Holt will at least be guaranteed a ticket for the match on 19 May. But, having already experienced victory as a Hearts supporter, he would far rather play an active part in achieving it this time. "It's a massive game and, being a Hearts fan as well, I was at the last cup final," said Holt, who has played just twice to date for the senior team. Just to be involved would mean a lot to me. In the last final, I went with one of my mates and his dad. I can't really remember much. I remember some of the game, but just lifting the cup with the fans celebrating was good. I was quite young then. I'm not sure if we got tickets through the club or just bought them. It was a great occasion. It's seems quite surreal that I could play in this final, I'm a young boy and training with all the first-team players and being involved. Holt might have had more of a chance by now to impress Paulo Sergio, but, with European places still to play for in the league, the manager has continued to field the strongest available team, and is unlikely to deviate from that practice against Dundee United today. The fact that only five substitutes are allowed in the cup makes it even harder for the likes of the 19-year-old to get an opportunity to stake his claim for a place, but Holt remains hopeful of being given a chance. If there was not a lot to play for the gaffer probably would have put a lot of young players in, but because all the games between now and the end of the season are really important for the club to secure maximum points, he needs to think about that as well. Even though the games have been really important, he has kept us involved. Even in the semi-final he put Denis [Prychynenko] on, so it shows he is willing to put youngsters in. He's not said anything yet [about cup-final places], but I think he will go on how people are performing in training and games and take his selection from there. If we keep impressing, then hopefully there is a chance. Holt, who has been capped at under-19 level, was on loan to Raith Rovers earlier this season and found it a useful experience. "It's completely different playing first-team football," he said. I don't think people realise how different it is to 19s football. The First Division is even different from the SPL: it's physical and teams are battling to get maximum points. It was an eye-opener - even the facilities are different to here. It definitely makes you appreciate more what you've got. You come in here and you have changing rooms, you train at the stadium. There, it was a case of sometimes training at local parks. You slipped your boots on and trained. We heard before we went that players have gone there and look at them now, they've developed so much. Hopefully that will stand all the Hearts boys in good stead. Holt did not let Sergio down when he made his first start for Hearts, scoring in the 2-1 defeat at St Johnstone last month. The manager certainly appreciates his qualities, but warned that it was important not to expect too much of the player too quickly. "He had his opportunity, he played very well, he scored a goal, which caught the attention of everybody," Sergio said. He has a lot of quality, but we shouldn't rush, because I believe we have a great talent there. He has time. He should wait for his moment and he knows. He's humble, a hard worker with fantastic technical ability. Different class. He's a kid that can go far in his profession. l Midfielder David Obua has been told he will not be offered a new contract when his current deal at Tynecastle expires at the end of the season. The Ugandan international has been at the club for four years, having been signed by Csaba Laszlo, who had been his manager at international level. Five young players are also to be released in the summer: Matthew Park, Colin Hamilton, Aaron Murdoch, Ryan Stewart and Chris Tobin.