Future’s bright for defender, says gaffer

St Mirren defender Jack Baird has been tipped to go from strength to strength following a successful season in the heart of the Saints defence.

Baird had already drawn praise from defensive partner Gary MacKenzie earlier this term, but now manager Jack Ross has tipped his 21-year-old charge to continue his progression over the course of the next campaign.

Despite his young age, Baird has been, at times, one of the club’s more experienced campaigners in recent times having already racked up 81 appearances for the Paisley side over the last three seasons.

His efforts in the second half of last season were rewarded with a new contract in the immediate aftermath of the side’s battle of avoiding the drop.

And Ross says the youngster has all the skills required to make it to the top.

He told Express Sport: “He has raw attributes that give him the opportunity to have a good career as a centre half.

“He has bits of his game that he needs to do a lot of work on. I think we helped him a lot in that regard and he understands now where some of his weak areas are.

“We spend a good bit of time with him from an analysis point of view.

“The good thing is I think he is aware of these things now and the first step in trying to improve is being self aware. You can then start the process in being better.”

Ross appeared to put his full trust behind Baird at the end of the season as he filled in for the crocked Harry Davis.

He even handed him the captain’s armband in the dying stages of the side’s Irn-Bru Cup win over The New Saints, as well as bringing him on at Celtic Park in the Scottish Cup prior to Davis’ injury.

Ross revealed he was impressed by the way that Baird stepped up to the mark when it mattered most, leaving him in no doubt but to offer a new deal.

He added: “Over the last few games, I was delighted with him. He played great in some real pressure games and I was delighted with how he carried himself.

“He wants to stay here and he was very easy to deal with because he loves being here. He can progress and I definitely think he has the opportunity to progress up the leagues.”