Former Para Hills defender, McGowan, 19, joined the club as a 17 year old and has impressed bosses, but only made it onto the pitch with the first team just once, in a 1-0 defeat against Gretna.

However he has been named the club's top youngster and regularly won a place on the bench last season.

Now though he's determined to grab a chance for a regular starting spot.

He was part of the senior squad heading to England for pre-season and hopes to impress enough to capitalise on Hearts defensive shortfall in their opening games of the season to get a first team call-up.

"We have signed two new centre-backs over the last few weeks but that only encourages me to work even harder," he told Edinburgh's Evening News. "I have to try to make sure that they don't come here and just walk straight into the team.

"Marius Zaliukas is suspended for the first few games of the season and I suppose that is a good thing for me because it maybe gives me a chance to stake a claim early on. But pre-season is the time when, if you do well, hopefully the manager will show faith in you and give you a go."

McGowan is joined at Hearts by his younger brother Dylan and fellow Young Socceroo Rocco Visconte.

"I want the gaffer to know that he can go straight to me if there are injuries or suspensions, even if it is just to play one game," he said.

"I want to show that I can step into their shoes and do a job if I am needed. I want to make sure that I am ready if the gaffer needs me and I need to show him that I can do a job for him if he asks me to play."

He added: "Everyone is always on the lookout for an experienced centre-back but all you can do is try to make sure you're doing the right things in training.

"Because the reserve games are generally midweek, if I don't come off the bench on a Saturday then I am at least still getting some football on the Tuesday.

"It means that every week I'm getting 90 minutes or thereabouts, so it's good to keep getting games under my belt."