Only way is up for Buddies starMorgan
TANGERINE tormentor Lewis Morgan has set a double target of helping Saints back to the Premiership and earning his move to the big time.
Magical Morgan was on fire on Saturday as he hit two screamers and set up the third goal in a fantastic 3-0 win for the Buddies. His performance could spark inquiries before the window shuts at midnight on Thursday.
But he feels he is at the best place to continue his development and if Saints can win promotion then that would be the ideal time to make the step up.
He said: “I’ve never hidden the fact that I want to progress to bigger and better things. But there’s no better team in the country for a young player to learn his trade it and I’m more than happy here.
“The gaffer’s been great and we have a really good relationship. He talks to me openly about stuff like this, which means a lot.
“Ideally, we’d get back up to the Premiership and then something could maybe happen for me - that would work for all concerned and I think we need to be looking at going for that after a result like this.
“This was a big marker to put down. Other teams will sit up and take notice. We’ve had some high-scoring games here, like the 6-2 against Ayr and the 5-0 over Raith last season, but in terms of performance this was right up there.
“United are the team people fancy for the title, but we dominated them and 3-0 doesn’t flatter us. It could have been way more.”
Morgan thrived in Jack Ross’s 3-5-2 system, given a free role to work off Gavin Reilly, and he opened the scoring in 26 minutes after bursting into the area and firing past Harry Lewis.
He netted a brilliant second three minutes after the break then had the pace and stamina to rip Jamie Robson for the umpteenth time in 79 minutes to set up Ian McShane.
He said: “The gaffer wanted me in wee areas behind the strikers, so when that happened for the first goal and no one got really close to me, I thought it was worth a shot.
“I think the second was my first this season with my left foot, which is odd as it’s my stronger side. It came at a really important time, too, because they’d come out really up for it.
“I was frustrated not to get my hat-trick because I had opportunities, but to set up Macca for the third wasn’t bad either!
“We have boys coming back from injury, so we can only get stronger and when we’re playing football like this, how can you not enjoy it?”
Morgan is now looking forward to representing Scotland under-21s against Holland at the Paisley 2021 Stadium on September 5.
He added: “It’s exciting and with Liam Smith being part of that too, plus Stevie Mallan coming up from Barnsley so soon after leaving here, you can see what a great club it is to be a young player at.”