It is Ryan Gauld’s 18th birthday today but it is Dundee United who are about to receive the biggest gift of all.
The wee Tannadice whizzkid will celebrate passing that personal milestone but it is club officials who will have the party hats on and streamers out when Gauld signs an extended contract.
The new deal will supplant the one he signed just six weeks ago, which tied him to the Tangerines until May 2016.
That was the maximum time allowed under SFA rules to protect players aged under 18. Now that Gauld has unwrapped his presents, however, United will tie their prize asset on an even longer contract.
It is understood manager Jackie McNamara and chairman Stephen Thompson have worked tirelessly to put together a package that has persuaded the Scotland under-21 star to sign until 2018.
So if a bid does come in during the January transfer window or over the summer from any of the top clubs who have been watching “Mini Messi,” it will ensure United can ask for top dollar for the midfielder.
They will be able to point to the length of time remaining on Gauld’s contract and seek suitable compensation in the form of a bumper fee.
However, it should also be stressed that all the signals coming out of the club and from the player himself are that he may be around for a while yet in order to continue his development under McNamara and coaches Simon Donnelly and Darren Jackson.
Gauld was on the scoresheet as United kept their remarkable scoring run going with a 4-1 win at Kilmarnock on Saturday.
UPDATE: Dundee United have now confirmed Gauld has signed a contract up to May 2017.