In a season that has offered precious little to cheer about for Hearts the progress of Aaron Hickey has at least offered sunshine on another wise grey sky.

The fullback has not been short of admirers as the trajectory of his career has moved with some alacrity this season. The 17-year-old has been scouted by a host of top flight English clubs with Manchester City, Liverpool and Newcastle all keeping tabs on the player who has emerged onto the first-team scene in the opening months of the campaign.

But if the youngster has already endeared himself to those on the outside looking in it might be of note to recognise that those he shares a dressing room, none of whom are likely to suffer fools gladly, with are equally enthused by his progress.

At stage during Saturday’s 0-0 draw with ten-man Livingston that was every bit as bleak as it sounds, Nicky Devlin cemented Hickey much to the fury of the visiting support. And it was the teenager’s reaction to be halved in two that confirmed his suitability for top flight football.

“The tackle in the first half on Hickey is a red card, no doubt – 100%,” said Berra. “They got away with one there but that’s football. He’s lunged into two footed. They thought it was a 50/50 but I’ve seen it again and he lunged in, two-footed. They can analyse it all they want but it was a sore tackle.

“It’s the first time he’s been smashed since he’s played professional football at first team level. But he got up and got on with it, there would be many a player on would have gone off.

“I thought he might have done his knee and I asked him if he was okay. He got up and that shows his character as well that he’s got a bit of steel with him.”

If Hickey is to fulfil the promise that has been on display over these past few months what goes on around him will be key. 

There was a high profile mistake last weekend in the draw against Rangers and keeping his focus when there is the noise of speculation ringing around him will be crucial.

“I think he will stay grounded,” said Berra. “He’s quite a quiet lad. I don’t know his family but it will be down to them to keep him grounded but I’m sure they will. If you’re 17 and playing in the top league in your country and doing well then of course there will be big teams sniffing about.

“Some speculation might be right, some might not. He’s got to embrace it but it’s not easy. I don’t know if people have contacted him but all he can do is work hard and do what he does on the pitch. As a club and a team we’ve been going through a difficult period and it’s not been easy for him.

“Times have been hard but it’s been a test of his character but he’s been arguably one of our best players this season.”

Rather then the long-term future of Hickey, the more pressing matter for Hearts to concern themselves with is Wednesday night’s game in Perth. Craig Levein’s side take on a St Johnstone side whose woes have been only marginally worse than their own this season.

Tommy Wright’s team took a necessary three points at the weekend with their win over Hamilton Accies which means there is only a point between them and Hearts. With a clutch of teams mired together at the bottom – there are only two points between the bottom five teams – the midweek game has the potential to offer considerable weight.

Other than one decent Uche Ikpeazu effort on Saturday which the striker took too long to dispatch, Hearts were impotent in the face of a resilient Livingston side. 

Berra admitted he felt the red-card for Aymen Souda was soft – “if it had been for us I’d have been disappointed with it” – as the player’s attempted overhead kick came off all wrong and caught Berra – but Hearts’ inability to get in behind the ten men was telling.

“St Johnstone is always a tough place to go and we always seem to get them on a midweek away just when winter is kicking in,” said Berra. 

“We’ll have to roll up our sleeves but add that quality and get a goal.”

It all sounds fairly simple in paper. In practice both the quality and the goals have been largely elusive for Hearts this season.