BEN RAMAGE

Ethan deserves first team and U-21 squad places

Allan McManus insists talented young St Mirren star Ethan Erhahon’s impressive rise is all down to the midfielder’s own drive and work ethic.

The Saints Academy product

endured a age when he first broke into the team.

A loan spell to Barnsley followed as his future with the Buddies appeared in doubt, but he turned it around to become a first team mainstay last season.

The 20- year- old also earned himself a first call-up to the Scotland Under-21 side, turning out in their recent friendly against Northern Ireland in Dumbarton.

St Mirren academy director McManus is adamant Erhahon deserves all the success that’s coming to him after knuckling down and proving his worth.

McManus told Express Sport : “Ethan has had a rough time of it over the last couple of years.

“He found himself playing out of position and then going out on loan.

“It was difficult for a player that young.

“Everything he’s achieving at the moment is totally down to him and how hard he’s worked and is working.

“You can give young players every opportunity they need, but ultimately the player still has to have that drive to work hard and improve himself too.

“He’s a very talented young player, but what excites me about him the most is that there’s still so much more to come from him.

“We’re fortunate enough to have a lot of talented young players at the club and the challenge for us, and for them, is to keep maintaining high standards and improving every single season.”

Last season was a particularly impressive one for the club’s young prospects, with Jay Henderson, Lewis

Jamieson and Dylan Reid all making their first team bows.

The latter became the youngest ever player in the Scottish Premiership when he took to the field at Ibrox, and McManus is glad that first team boss Jim Goodwin holds the view as he does that if a player is good enough, they’re old enough.

McManus added: “I’m not at all surprised to see these young boys go on and make it into the first team, because they deserve it.

“Jay Henderson and Lewis Jamieson both had a taste of it this season, particularly Henderson who had a good few opportunities at the end of the campaign.

“Jay’s done very well when he’s played and there’s no question these boys are more than ready to play for the first team.”

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