THE BACK PAGE GREG CAN BE MAIN MAN

Playmaker tipped to shine next season

St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson insists creative influence Greg Kiltie has a big part to play in Paisley next season.

The former Kilmarnock playmaker today joins Joe Shaughnessy and Jak Alnwick on the nominee list for this year’s Paisley Daily Express Player of the Year Award.

Having joined the Buddies last summer, the 25-year-old suffered a knee injury in August after making just seven appearances in the stripes.

He returned towards the end of 2021 before seriously kicking on after the winter break.

The attacking midfielder scored four goals and picked up several assists as his fine finishing and creavity helped the Saints go on a crucial nine-game unbeaten run.

He also bagged St Mirren’s vital winner against St Johnstone last month, when the Paisley club’s Premiership status was starting to look precarious.

Robinson believes the Scotland Under-19 star has a big future at the club, despite the competition

likely to come in the shape of some new attacking teammates over the summer.

Robinson told Express Sport: “Kilts has been very good for me since I came in. His best position is in behind the front two. He’s got great balance and he’s such a clever footballer.

“There’s a real football intelligence there in the way he picks up pockets of space and finds his teammates with passes. His work-rate and energy are exceptional as well.

“He has helped trigger our press in recent games which has seen us become a lot more solid defensively.

“Bringing Curtis Main back in has allowed him to make those late runs into the box too, like he did against St Johnstone. That was a very important goal and his movement and

timing was excellent. Alongside Connor Ronan he was one of our most creative players last season.

“While there’s going to be more competition for places next season, he’s certainly got a big part to play for us going forward.”

Former St Mirren striker Steven Thompson has been impressed by some of Kiltie’s performances in the stripes.

But he’d like to see the playmaker produce on a more consistent basis at the SMISA Stadium and on the road.

Thompson said: “Kiltie can be really influential. He’s got the quality and the ability required to become a really good St Mirren player. His timing into the box can be great and his finishing for a midfielder is often excellent too.

“For me it’s all about bringing that on a more regular basis.”

• Voting for this year’s Paisley Daily Express Player of the Year Award will open tomorrow, when the last nominee is

revealed.