STEPH IS A REAL SAINT
JACK ROSS reckons his skipper Stephen McGinn has been a huge influence as St Mirren close in on the Championship title and a return to the top flight.
Ross knows McGinn took a massive gamble by turning his back on English offers when leaving Wycombe to return to Paisley.
He admits the 29-year-old midfielder should be playing at a higher level.
But he hopes it’s with the Buddies in the Premiership next season as a new deal will be put on the table.
Ross and McGinn are celebrating an awards double after landing the Ladbrokes Manager and Player of the Month for January.
And with Saints 14 points clear it looks like there will be an even bigger party in April. Ross said: “I can’t speak highly enough of him as a player and as a person.
“We obviously played together at St Mirren but that was a long time ago.
“Stephen took a big decision to come back north and join a team bottom of the Championship when he had other options and I also dumped the captaincy on him. I don’t think he had been a captain before.
“So his performances over the period have been terrific and he has handled the pressures and responsibilities.
“He has played a massive part in our success.
“Stephen is also probably playing at a level below what he is capable of so he needs something to excite him and that’s driving this club forward.
“You need key figures in your team to get your message across on the park and Stephen has done that.
“I’m lucky that we have a good relationship and I see a lot of myself in him.
“I can see that I was a pain in the a*** to a lot of managers because I questioned things and he does that as well.
“He has the emotional pull too and I know if we achieve what we want it will mean a lot to him.
“There is dialogue ongoing in terms of a new contract. It’s difficult for us because naturally our planning is dictated by which league you’re in.
“But we are both fairly relaxed about it.”
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