Connor Barron has signed a new two-year contract.

The youngster put pen to paper on his deal just before the season was suspended.

The U18 captain, who was on the bench this season for the first team, had been recognised for the level of performances he has put in since joining the club as a full-time professional two years ago after graduating from the AFC Youth Academy.

This season the 17-year-old has led his side to the top of the Club Academy Scotland U18 League and the SFA Youth Cup Final after 17 wins, one draw and only one loss.

From midfield Connor has chipped in with 13 goals.

“I got offered a new contract and I was very happy to get it signed, just before the lock down.

“Since I signed it, the circumstances have not been great, but it has given me something to be very positive about.

“I was really enjoying my football.

“As a team and from a personal point of view we were having a great season. We only lost one game, that was against Rangers in the league. That day we were not up to it, but really that was the only time that has happened the whole campaign.

“I had scored 13 goals, I think ten or eleven of them were penalties! But I will take them.

“The highlight of the season was the hat-trick of spot kicks I scored against Celtic, as well as beating Rangers in the Youth Cup semi-final.

“We still had a very realistic chance at a league and cup double so it was very disappointing when the season came to a halt but we all understand the reasons why.

“We had the SFA Youth Cup final to look forward to against Kilmarnock. That is a big deal for the club, it is a competition we have not won for a while despite getting to semi-finals and the final in recent years. I am not sure what will happen with the league but I am hopeful that the cup final will still get played at some point. It would be a massive occasion for all the players involved.

“There is a lot of talent within the squad and there is a real togetherness and we showed that on the pitch. Hopefully we will get back out there soon.

“Our final game against Hibernian a few days before the season was stopped, typified what our team are about.

“We lost a few sloppy goals and were 4-2 down with about ten minutes left. But Barry Robson has instilled a never give up attitude and we have scored a lot of late goals this season. Even with a two goal deficit we always knew we had it in us to get back into the game, and we did that by scoring three late goals and winning 5-4.

“We knew we would have a strong team at U18 level this year and Barry has really helped to get the most out of us all and there was a great intensity with each training session.

“He has been great with me, takes me aside and goes over matches and looks at the bits of my game that he thinks I can improve.

“Having played in my position at the highest level, he someone I can learn a lot from, as well as the other coaches we have at the club.

“I have had the chance to train with the first team. Also getting the opportunity to be on the bench was a great experience for me and I learnt a lot just from being around the squad on matchday, seeing how players prepare and all of those sorts of things.

“It all adds to my education and I got a real confidence boost from it.

“I want to keep pushing for the first team. I need to keep working hard in training and impressing in games and believe if I do that, I will get my chance.

“You have to set yourself goals and be ambitious if you want to make it.

“Hopefully over the next two years I can really push on and get to where I want to be once we get back playing again.”