Flashback When Kenny was the king
With the international week now taking place and St Mirren not playing for another week it is time to look back to Kenny McLean’s exciting time at Saints.
The former Buddies midfielder has been making a name for himself in recent games for his current club Norwich who are sitting top of the English Championship.
The midfielder has played 12 games for his new club since joining from Aberdeen in the summer and has scored three goals and provided three assists – with all of them coming in his last six games.
Even though he has left the Buddies, his time at the club is still remembered fondly.
McLean made his debut for the club on October 17, 2010 as he
Good times
St Mirren FC is a club with a proud tradition — and a history to match. They have been at the centre of the Scottish game since their formation in 1877.
Today, we look back at Kenny McLean’s time at Saints.
came on as a substitute in a 2-2 draw against Hamilton.
Saints were 2-0 down when McLean came on with manager Danny Lennon thinking his side was heading for a defeat.
He put the youngster on to give him some game time – only for McLean to change the game with his drive and energy, and salvage a point for his club.
He would then go on to sign a new three-year contract extension later on in the week which kept him at the club until 2014.
McLean would go onto make 23 appearances in his breakthrough season at the club.
The following season would be more of the same as he continued to make a name for himself.
He would score his first senior goal on October 29, just over a year since his debut, in a 1-0 win over St Johnstone.
He was rewarded with the SPL Young Player of the Month award as a result of his performances during October.
McLean’s performances would go onto to attract the attention of then Championship clubs Burnley and Crystal Palace, with Celtic also being reportedly interested in signing him.
McLean would finish the 201112 season in good form and was nominated for the SPL Young Player of the Year award, only to lose to James Forrest.
McLean’s best goal for the club came in August 2012 against St Mirren’s next opponent in the league, Dundee at Dens Park.
He opened the scoring in a 2-0 win with a strike from 40 yards to stun everyone in the stadium.
He would go on to be involved in the team’s famous Scottish League Cup run but remained on the bench for the final in which they beat Hearts 3-2 at Hampden.
McLean left the Saints in February 2015 to join Aberdeen on a three-and-a-half-year contract for a fee reported to be £300,000.
McLean left Saints after making 152 appearances and scoring 24 goals.
He made roughly the same contribution at Aberdeen where he scored 25 goals in 158 appearances.