The ball zipped across the field, aimed at the young midfielder with impressive speed. How did he handle it? Like velvet, no less. What happened next?

Throughout that morning at Riccarton, nothing but approving looks were exchanged among the seasoned veterans who watched over the young prodigy in their midst.

Witnesses remember Keir McMeekin showing not a hint of fear while in control of the ball. His movement was graceful, a testament to his natural football talent.

By the session’s conclusion, he had left an impression on teammates who were unfamiliar with him before. Not bad at all for a 15-year-old.

Hearts recognized McMeekin’s potential and included him in several first-team practice games against Falkirk, Ayr United, Dundee, and Ross County as the season began. Once again, he stood out.

Keir McMeekin was involved in closed-door matches with the Hearts’ first team over summer

The 15-year-old has drawn rave reviews from those who have seen him train and play

McMeekin slides in on a Rangers counterpart during an Under-19 clash earlier this season

‘He certainly didn’t look out of place,’ one opposing manager told Mail Sport.

‘If I hadn’t known he was 15, I’d never have guessed it. He was technically sound and comfortable on the ball.

‘He recognised the patterns of the game and made the right decisions within it. He was really impressive.’

McMeekin’s story to this point feels like a throwback to the days when there appeared no end to the conveyer-belt of Scottish talent which was self-taught under our streetlights and in our parks.

Hailing from the town of Pattiesmuir in Fife, it seemed like he had a ball welded to his foot before coming under the wing of local club Duloch Juniors at seven years old.

‘When he kicked his first ball at the age of five, I was told he was a natural,’ his father Scott recalled. ‘He has never looked back since.’

Long before dazzling Hearts’ first-team with his close control, young McMeekin was commanding headlines for other reasons.

Born in Fife, McMeekin is said to have been a natural with a ball at his feet since the age of five

During lockdown, there was a charming story in the local paper which spoke to both his impressive character and his ability to manipulate a football.

Inspired by the feats of Captain Tom Moore, the player, then aged 10, juggled a ball for a mile a day for 26 days along the streets of his town. He raised over £1,800 for NHS charities in the process.

He further honed his skills playing futsal, the indoor five-a-side game which many players including former Celtic midfielder Tom Rogic claim to have played a huge role in their development.

After he made his Scotland under 15 debut, Futsal Escocia, the company which runs classes in Dunfermline, posted a message on social media recalling the time when McMeekin had ‘a little tantrum when his dad was asked about moving him up into a group two years older, but he gave it a shot.’

The experiment didn’t seem to go too badly. He scored four goals and came out that evening ‘absolutely buzzing’.

His one-time futsal coaches were also ‘sure he will continue to develop and progress up the levels to full-time football and further international selection.’

You don’t doubt this. The unfortunate thing, from Hearts’ perspective, is that it doesn’t look like that next stage is going to be taken with them.

Ben Gannon-Doak left Scottish football at the age of 16 after two substitute outings for Celtic

Despite having not yet been in a single match-day squad, McMeekin has had sniffs from a whole host of English Premier League sides this season, but the interest from the two Manchester giants has been the most intense.

United tried their darnedest. McMeekin and his family were given the full Carrington-Old Trafford-Fergie treatment. Still they couldn’t convince him.

It will hurt them no end, then, that the player has apparently now opted to commit his future to Manchester City.

Yet, United’s dismay will be nothing compared to that of his parent club.

To be clear, no one could possibly blame any teenager for grabbing the opportunity that’s in front of him. Frankly, most in their position would.

But when a club have been invested so much in a player and can lose him for a modest six-figure compensation fee, they’re inclined to ask if it’s all been worth it.

There’s surely a fundamental fault with any system which can see a talent such as McMeekin’s move for a song when he’s made no appreciable impact.

Under the current laws, Scottish players must turn 16 before they can sign professional terms.

Moves by clubs to reduce this to 14 have so far failed to get off the ground, meaning the cream of the crop are being routinely lured across the border, often moving south on scholarships prior to putting pen to paper on their 16th birthday.

Brexit has only heightened the issue. With English Premiership and Championship clubs now facing more difficulties in recruiting footballers aged under 18 from outwith the United Kingdom, taking punts on emerging Scottish players is seen as one solution.

James Wilson is another Tynecastle youngster with admirers… but he has opted to stay put

The Tynecastle club’s own list of departures for paltry compensation money includes Marc Leonard (Brighton) Ewan Simpson (Aston Villa) and John Dodds (Everton).

They are not alone in this. Kilmarnock lost Liam Smith, a forward, to Manchester City. Lewis Pirie moved from Aberdeen to Leeds. Ben Gannon-Doak left Celtic for Liverpool.

Now with Bournemouth after completing a Scottish record £25m summer move, the career path of the jet-heeled winger is certainly a good advert for reaching for the stars.

But Gannon-Doak is truly a generational talent. Many others in his shoes who’ve broken for the border have eventually become lost, forgotten and have lived to regret being in too big a hurry.

Simpson, to name but one, recently returned on loan to Hamilton Accies without playing a first team game at Villa Park.

Might he have better following the lead of the likes of James Wilson by staying put at Hearts, being regularly exposed to first-team football then moving on when the time is right? You would have to say so.

It’s to be sincerely hoped that McMeekin’s story doesn’t tail off in the same way. As a growing number of young Scottish players are discovering, ability is nothing without opportunity.