Kearney adds Mendes magic to backroom

ST MIRREN manager Oran Kearney has continued his rebuilding work by adding former league-winning striker Junior Mendes to his backroom staff.

Mendes (pictured) had two spells at the Paisley club as a player and was part of the squad that won the First Division title in 2000, scoring one of the goals that sealed promotion to the top flight after an eight-year absence.

The English-born, Montserrat international will join as sports scientist, a role he has held at Partick Thistle since 2015.

It is the latest move by Kearney as he looks to put his own stamp on the squad he inherited from former manager Alan Stubbs, with veteran coach Jimmy Nicholl also to join up with Saints in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, St Mirren defender Alfie Jones has expressed his relief at being called in from the cold.

The on-loan Southampton defender didn’t feature in Kearney’s first five matches and had been training separately from the first team, along with most of Stubbs’ signings.

The 21-year-old, though, was recalled for the recent match away to St Johnstone and was one of the stand-out performers in St Mirren’s match against Rangers at the weekend.

He said: “When a manager brings you in then he gets sacked, you know your position isn’t guaranteed. It is a test of character.

“Now I just need to fight for my place.”

After seven defeats in a row, St Mirren now travel to fellow relegation strugglers Dundee on Saturday.

“It is a massive game,” said Jones. “It is one we need to win.”