I’ll show gaffer I mean business

Baird aims to nail down first team spot

Jack Baird insists he is ready to prove to his gaffer why he should be a staple in the St Mirren first team.

The centre-back looks set to battle it out with summer signings Cole Kpekawa and Josh Heaton for one of the two centre-back berths in the first team as the Saints get set for the step up to the Premiership.

The 22-year-old has been a fixture for the Buddies since making his debut against Hamilton Accies in 2014 – the last season St Mirren were in the top flight.

He has featured under Tommy Craig, Gary Teale, Ian Murray, Alex Rae and Jack Ross.

But now he is trying to catch the eye of his sixth manager, Alan Stubbs.

Baird told Express Sport: “I have got to try and nail down that spot – if you don’t want to be playing games then there is something wrong with you, I think.

“I never expect to play. I don’t take anything for granted. I am well aware that it is a massive jump from last year and the Premiership is another level.

“I did play in it a little when I was younger, but I want to play in it as often as I can this season.

“I could never be one of those guys that sat on the bench not bothered. I have to play.

“I’m getting to an age where I probably need to be playing regularly now and it is up to me to show the manager that I deserve to be playing.

“I’m just taking it one game at a time but the plan is obviously to make one of the spots my own.”

Baird featured in all four of St Mirren’s League Cup clashes as the Buddies booked their spot in the next round of the competition for the first time since the group stages were introduced two seasons ago.

Saturday’s 6- 0 victory over Dumbarton set up a last-16 clash against Aberdeen, and Baird believes that an emphatic win had been on the cards.

He said: “I felt like that sort of result has been coming because things just hadn’t been coming off for us over the last couple of games.

“It is difficult because it is so early in the season, but it felt like it was starting to click on Saturday.

“The mood in the camp is good, every one is buying into things

“There are different expectations on us this season and it is going to be harder to pick up results at certain places than it was last season.”

But despite the challenges that lie ahead, Baird says he is still hoping to improve as the year goes on as he leans on the experience of Alan Stubbs.

He added: “I feel I am going to learn a lot from him. He is trying to teach me things since he has came in and I enjoy that side of things.

“I can only get better playing under a manager who has played at the highest level himself.”