Kyle’s sticking with his Buds
Starlet delights boss by extending deal
St Mirren manager Jack Ross admits he is delighted to buck the trend of youngsters leaving the club after Kyle Magennis committed his future to the Saints.
The 18-year-old agreed a new three- year deal with the side earlier this week in a move that ties him down in Paisley until 2020.
The midfielder burst on to the scene towards the end of last year, making his debut as a second-half substitute against Hibernian.
He would go on to make 32 appearances for the side over the course of the campaign.
In recent seasons, St Mirren have lost a number of players who have made their way through the youth academy. John McGinn, Kenny McLean, Kyle McAllister and, most recently, Stevie Mallan have all been sold.
But St Mirren boss Ross reckons securing the future of Magennis shows the progress that both the player and the club are trying to make.
Ross told Express Sport: “It goes against the recent trend, where we have been losing players. So it shows the fact that Kyle is willing to commit, as well as the faith he has in the club, so we are delighted with that.
“Kyle was under contract until 2019 anyway, so I think it is a reflection of where we are as a club and how comfortable he feels that he is happy to further extend the deal he already had.
“He clearly feels we can help him achieve his ambitions in the game as well.”
Magennis’ performances for the Paisley side saw him recently called up for the Scotland under20s squad, which will head to the Toulon Tournament in France this weekend.
Ross has never hid his admiration of the youngster and hopes that St Mirren can continue to help him develop in the coming years.
Ross added: “Everyone knows how I feel about Kyle, not only as a player, but as a character as well.
“Even over this close season, I’ve had him in a few times to see me because he goes away for Toulon tomorrow.
“The relationship I have with him means he knows the demands and expectations that I expect from him and it is about how he takes it on to the next stage as well.
“And he will do that as he knows how much I want to try and help him.
“I want him to be successful at St Mirren and, if he does that, then it opens up a number of opportunities for him as well.”