I was close to being a part of the growing Serie A sporran legion

WATCHING Billy Gilmour conquer Serie A brought a smile to Harry Cochrane's face.

- BY FRASER WILSON

The former Hearts prodigy was delighted to see his old Grange Academy, Rangers and Scotland youth team-mate snaffle the Scudetto with Napoli.

But he can't help shake the feeling it really could have been him.

A decade earlier the duo had stood in the San Siro as wide-eyed 13-year-old kids from the SFA performance School in Kilmarnock to watch Carlos Tevez inspire Juventus to a 1-0 win over Milan en route to the Serie A title.

Ten years on and here was Gilmour swapping the stands for the big stage and doing the exact same.

It’s been a sensational year in Italian football for the so-called 'Tartanaccio' of Gilmour, Scott McTominay, Lewis Ferguson, Josh Doig and Che Adams.

Not forgetting the trailblazer Liam Henderson now in his eighth season.

But while Cochrane bursts with pride for his old pal there's a gnawing feeling that refuses to go away.

It has been there seven years since he burst on to the Premiership scene as a 16-year-old at Hearts, becoming the Jambos’ youngest ever goalscorer as he helped end Celtic's 69-game unbeaten run in a 4-0 Tynecastle trouncing.

Cochrane's form in that breakthrough season with the Jambos caught the eye of Italian giants Juventus.

The midfielder even met with a Juve representative in a Bothwell restaurant and spoke football, ambitions and pasta.