On this day: Offer turned down but Portsmouth boss backed to get best out of wonderkid linked with Liverpool, Barcelona, Cetlic and Lazio

Former Blues striker Mark Hateley believed the then Fratton Park manager was the ideal person to nurture the teenage wonderkid’s prodigious ability.

And Hateley told the rising star that Pompey was the perfect place for him to showcase his talents.

The Blues had just had a £500,000 bid for the Scottish Young Player of the Year turned down.

But Hateley felt his old club would need to double that offer to stand a chance of landing the Hamilton sensation, who was attracting interest from clubs across Europe.

The ex-Rangers man, who now works in an ambassadorial role for the Scottish giants, also reckoned McCarthy would thrive under a man with experience of developing young players like Hart.

Hateley said: ‘Paul Hart could be the right manager for James.

‘He’s the sort of person with the experience of working with young players – like he did with Leeds and Nottingham Forest – who could help him.

‘He could bring him in and out of the side for three or four games and have a look at what he can do. Paul has the ability to do that and has proved that in his time.

‘If they have bid £500,000 it is a cheeky bid, almost carboot sale cheap.

‘Portsmouth would need to bid at least twice what they have so far when you look at what is being paid for average Premier League players nowadays.

‘He’s a lively player who can play wide in midfield.

‘He has that little bit of cheekiness about him and can get hold of the ball and make a pass as well as score goals.

‘Whether he can cut it in the Premier League is the big question. There have been a lot of clubs looking at him, but it’s up to someone to make that leap.

‘You can always question when the right time is for a player to go or not.

‘Really, I’d say another year in Scotland would suit him, but the door seldom opens to move into the big time.

‘It’s difficult to say whether he has the ability, but being on the big stage and playing with better players will bring him on again.

‘He is a good, young player and there is a lot more to come from him.’

A number of sides, including Liverpool, Barcelona, Deportivo La Coruna, Celtic and Lazio, were all said to be keen on McCarthy.

Hamilton chairman Ronnie McDonald stated Pompey were the first side to make a formal offer for the then 18-year-old.

As you will know, Pompey never signed McCarthy, who instead went to Wigan in 2009 for a deal believed to be in the region of £1.2m.

He played 120 games for the Latics, before signing for Everton in 2013 for £13m.

McCarthy signed for Crystal Palace in the summer for an undisclosed fee and had made 24 appearances before the season was suspended.