Delighted to be reunited

Liam Smith insists he is reaping the rewards of teaming up with Jack Ross once again.

The full-back has been in great form throughout his loan spell from Hearts this campaign, with Smith once again under the wing of the St Mirren gaffer having previously worked with him when Ross was a youth coach at Tynecastle.

He said: “One of the main reasons I came here was to work with him again, and given all the speculation around him at the moment, it’s clear to see how well he’s doing and why people think so highly of him.

“For us it’s great he’s getting the recognition he is. For him to turn down Barnsley shows he believes in us and he wants to do here.

“He picks the team on the pitch but if we can perform and do well then we need to repay him for staying.”

“This season I think I’m coming to the age where my development is the main thing. For the last couple of years I was in and out of the side, and Hearts thought it was important for me to come and play games.”