Wikipedia

Lewis Neilson

Not to be confused with Lewis Nielson.

Lewis Neilson (born 15 May 2003) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays primarily as a centre back or defensive midfielder for Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone, on loan from Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian.

Lewis Neilson
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-05-15) 15 May 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Dundee, Scotland
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Position(s) Centre back, defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 St Johnstone
(on loan from Heart of Midlothian)
Number 6
Youth career
2013–2020 Dundee United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2022 Dundee United 15 (0)
2021 → Falkirk (loan) 8 (0)
2022– Heart of Midlothian 10 (0)
2023–2024 → Partick Thistle (loan) 36 (1)
2024– → St Johnstone (loan) 11 (0)
International career‡
2018–2019 Scotland U16 2 (0)
2020 Scotland U17 1 (0)
2022– Scotland U21 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:18, 4 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 November 2023 (UTC)

Neilson has previously played for Dundee United, as well as on loan for Falkirk and Partick Thistle.

Club career

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Dundee United

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Neilson joined Dundee United at the age of 10 and signed his first professional contract with the club in the summer of 2019, before extending the contract until 2022 the following March.[2] After graduating from the club's academy,[2] he made his professional debut in a 1–1 draw against St Johnstone on the opening day of the 2020–21 Scottish Premiership season.[3] Neilson was loaned to Falkirk in March 2021.[4]

Following his return from loan, Neilson sustained an ankle injury, for which he required surgery. He did not appear in the United first team again until December 2021 when he started against Hibernian.[5] Neilson departed United in June 2022 after turning down a new contract offer.[6]

Hearts

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After leaving Dundee United, Neilson signed a three-year contract with Hearts.[7][8] In his first season with Hearts, he made 16 first-team appearances. But he did not feature in the final months and spent time involved with the club's B team.[9]

Partick Thistle (loan)

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On 3 August 2023, Neilson joined Scottish Championship club Partick Thistle on a season-long loan.[10]

Neilson scored the first goal of his professional career on 2 January 2024, scoring the winner for Thistle with a header from a corner, in a 3–2 home win over Queens Park.[11]

Neilson played the first half of the season as a centre back for Thistle, before moving into a defensive midfielder role for the second half of the campaign.[12]

St Johnstone (loan)

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On 30 July 2024, Neilson joined Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone on loan for the 2024–25 season.[13]

International career

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Neilson has represented Scotland at under-16 and under-17 level.[14]

In September 2022, Neilson was called up to the Scotland under-21 for friendlies against Northern Ireland under-21.[15]

Career statistics

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As of 2 January 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Dundee United 2020–21[16] Scottish Premiership 9 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 10 0
2021–22[17] Scottish Premiership 6 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 9 0
Total 15 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 19 0
Dundee United U21 2021–22[17] — — 1[a] 0 1 0
Falkirk (loan) 2020–21[16] Scottish League One 8 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
Heart of Midlothian 2022–23[18] Scottish Premiership 10 0 0 0 1 0 5 0 16 0
2023–24 Scottish Premiership 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 10 0 0 0 1 0 5 0 16 0
Partick Thistle (loan) 2023–24 Scottish Championship 18 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 19 1
Career total 52 1 3 0 5 0 6 0 65 0
  1. ^ Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup, in which age-restricted teams from the Scottish Premiership clubs compete against senior clubs

References

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  1. ^ "Lewis Neilson". dundeeunitedfc.co.uk. Dundee United F.C. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b "LEWIS NEILSON SIGNS A NEW CONTRACT". Dundee United F.C. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Dundee Utd 1-1 St Johnstone: Liam Craig earns a point for 10-man visitors". BBC Sport. 1 August 2020.
  4. ^ Woodger, Calum (12 March 2021). "Dundee United youngsters Kai Fotheringham and Lewis Neilson join Falkirk on loan until the end of the season". Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Lewis Neilson targets 'big year' in 2022 after making first Dundee United start in five months". 30 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Lewis Neilson to Leave Dundee United".
  7. ^ "Hearts sign Australia defender Kye Rowles & Lewis Neilson from Dundee Utd". BBC Sport. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Lewis Neilson seals Hearts transfer as Dundee United defender pens 3-year deal". 9 June 2022.
  9. ^ https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/lewis-neilsons-future-is-made-clear-as-the-hearts-defender-looks-to-further-his-career-4161675 [bare URL]
  10. ^ "Lewis Neilson signs on loan for the season". Partick Thistle FC. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Partick Thistle 3-2 Queen's Park: Visitors remain three points adrift". BBC Sport. 2 January 2024.
  12. ^ https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/premiership-club-make-their-move-for-versatile-hearts-defender-lewis-neilson-4716171
  13. ^ "Lewis Neilson signs for Saints". St Johnstone Football Club. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Lewis Neilson Scotland Scottish FA". scottishfa.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  15. ^ "Scot Gemmill names squad for Northern Ireland double header".
  16. ^ a b "Games played by Lewis Neilson in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  17. ^ a b "Games played by Lewis Neilson in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Games played by Lewis Neilson in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
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