Adelaide United are set to trigger a contract extension clause for Hibs target Musa Toure - with manager Carl Veart declaring the teenager is not yet ready to move overseas.

Last week, Hibs boss Nick Montgomery confirmed the 18-year-old attacker was on his radar as his deal with the A-League side moved towards a conclusion at the end of this season. Another appearance for Adelaide, though, will invoke an automatic one-year renewal for Toure, with Veart insisting the player has 'a long way to go' before taking the next step in his career.

"Musa is a contracted player at the club," said Veart. "He only needs one more performance and he gets another season in his contract, so he’s staying at the club. And we won’t be releasing him. He’s a required player.

"He’s still got a lot of developing to go before he goes overseas. I think I’ve said before, you know, when you have players go overseas, we don’t want them to come back. So it’s important that they go ready to play overseas football.

"Musa still has a long way to go. He’s only sort of been in and around the group now, this is his second season but he missed large chunks of last season with injuries and again this year, you know, he’s picked up a serious injury.

"So he needs to make sure he can get his body right, and not just his body, his mental attitude as well before he makes that next move."

Toure is currently sidelined with a muscle injury, but Montgomery has been an admirer for some time.

“I know most of the kids in Australia and I track their progress and watch as many games as time allows," he said. "We’re looking at players across the world who are coming off contract at the end of the season - and Musa is one of those.

READ MORE: Hibs optimistic as Bill Foley investment D-day arrives

“He’s a young player we’ll be watching. There’s nothing concrete and there have been no discussions but he fits a certain profile of what we want to bring in. A lot of clubs are looking at the A-League now and I think what we achieved with the Mariners showed what can be done with a small budget, so long as you can identify and bring on young players.

“Aussie players offer good value and once they get to Europe their value can sometimes go silly, so it can be a good investment. I know that market very well and it’s one we’re always keeping an eye on. I know Australian players can succeed here in Scotland - that’s been proven time and again, and I have no doubt that can continue.”