YOUTH is utterly wasted on the young. Unless the upstart is Harry Cochrane. This lad is full of life.

The Hearts kid who made his debut at 16 is getting on a bit now. He’s a month past his 18th birthday and to these old eyes looks about 12. Then he opens his mouth and you realise the teenager has something about him other than a natural gift to play football.

Cochrane bounced into the small room at The Oriam, where Hearts train, and it has to be said was a ray of sunshine, happy to talk about the Scottish Cup final, his side’s chances of beating Celtic and now being of age when he can take a drink.

If Hearts are to upset the champions then the team, and manager, need to borrow some of this young man’s charisma. They have reached a cup final just a few years after almost going out of business. It is worth shouting about.

Anyway.

Cochrane announced himself to the world at 16 when he scored a superb goal against Celtic last season in a seismic 4-0 win at Tynecastle, the first domestic defeat suffered by Brendan Rodgers.

Since then, injuries have been a hindrance, but this lad is a player alright. Craig Levein is surely considering allowing this talent to run around that giant Hampden pitch next Saturday.

And if he wins, this time he can down some bubbly rather than our other national drink.

“I have had a few man of the matches but my mum has stolen them all,” cliped Cochrane. “She says she doesn’t know where they are. But she does...

“Last year I think I got cans of Irn Bru. I got my first champagne a few weeks ago but my mum has drunk it already.”

Phil Foden, the Manchester City 18-year-old, admitted that when his team on the English title a year ago, he went fishing because he was too young to join in the party.

“I might go for a wee fish, aye,” said Cochrane. “We need to concentrate on winning it first and then we will see what happens.”

Indeed. For Hearts to win, Celtic are going to have to play badly and be missing some of their better players. And then Hearts, who themselves are hardly at full strength, must perform above any levels produced this season.

The Gorgie men must start well. Don’t play the occasion. Go and prove to all that they are a good team worthy of being in the season’s grand finale.

“When you play Celtic you need to show no fear,” insisted Cochrane. “They are probably the best team in the league, they have won it, so you need to play with no fear. That gives you the confidence to feel free when you are playing.

“I think they are good enough to know that if a team has fear they can take advantage of that. They have done that this season. In the two games coming up we need to play with bravery.

“That’s the mentality at Hearts. Coming up through the youth ranks we have always been told not to worry, to go out and try to play our best and if we get the win that’s a bonus.

“Obviously, it’s different at first team level. You need to win games. From me being a young player, I don’t feel much pressure in games. Maybe now that I’m 18 people maybe expect more but when I first came through, I just played with a lot of freedom and that’s why I did well last season.

“I would say starting well is the most important thing. You saw Rangers do it at the weekend - they went out and just had no fear.

“We need to start the game really well. You’ve seen this season that when we start games well, we usually get the result. Hopefully we can do the same in those two games.’

Nerves are going to play a part. Celtic players are used to these games. This will be the biggest match for almost all of those in maroon.

“At the start I used to get more nervous. I’m getting used to it now. so I feel a lot better going into games,” Cochrane admitted. “I have thought about what it would be like to play at Hampden in the final.

“I thought about it before the semi and ended up in the stand! I drive home myself sometimes so when I’m sat in the car I might think about scoring the winner. It would be amazing. John Rankin has told me it took him until he was 30 to play in a cup final. So, to get the chance this early, I would love it.”

Cochrane now changes in the first team dressing room. That’s his reward for paying 30 games for the club. It’s time to grow up. Sort of.

“I had my boxers in the sink the first week and then the next week I got two holes cut in them,” revealed the supposed wean. “John Souttar was to blame for the first incident, Michael Smith the second.

“Jon Daly told me to bide my time. he told me something about crickets at Dundee United so there could be a trip to the pet shop soon.

“It’s an achievement for me. I was quite proud when I got in there. I’m still cleaning Christophe Berra’s boots. Hopefully next year I will be off that. But I still need to keep my feet on the ground.’

Ah, but he has about scoring the winner in the Scottish Cup final.

“Left foot, bottom corner.” He's good enough to do it.