Quiet but very determined, teenager can go all the way
Ali makes his first-team debut (right) in a Scottish Cup victory against Albion Rovers while, above, the young midfielder is pictured with youth academy mates back in 2016. Left, he beats Celtic’s Nir Bitton to the ball earlier this season
Alistair Stevenson always sensed Ali McCann had the required attributes to climb up the McDiarmid Park ladder.
The head of St Johnstone’s youth academy moved quickly to bring the versatile midfielder to Perth from Edinburgh-based club HutchisonVale.
Stevenson (below), who also spent time working with Hibernian, was instantly impressed with how McCann conducted himself both on and off the playing field.
And it comes as little surprise that he has been able to rise through the ranks and make a positive impression with Tommy Wright’s first team.
“I remember getting notification that Ali was worth looking at,”Stevenson said.“He made a big commitment with his travelling to get up to Perth.
“He’s done really well and played in a good team when he first joined. He was very adaptable and made a good immediate impression.
“He was prepared to play in different positions. While he favoured midfield, he played right-back, left-back and even at centre-half.
“Ali was always a very good player, although maybe a wee bit of a late developer because it took him a while to grow and get the strength.
“He has not just been a good player, he is popular and everyone likes him. I know that Ali has always been good enough.
“And I’m pleased that he has been given the chance. The manager has given younger players a chance this season and that is starting to pay dividends.
“It has been such an experienced team and that has made it difficult to put younger players in, especially when going for Europe and cup runs.
“But he has done that and Ali has been in the right place at the right time. He has struck up a really good partnership with Murray Davidson.”
McCann’s ability to keep the play moving has earned praise this season and that is a trait he has always possessed.
“I love my midfield players to be able to pass the ball and keep it,”Stevenson told the Perthshire Advertiser.
“He was the midfield dictator and would circulate the ball, take it from the back and feed it to the front players.
“Another thing was that he just never stopped running.
“It was at his own speed – never like a sprinter – but he always covered the whole pitch. And he would be relentless in winning the ball back. He was very good at getting possession.
“When he did have the ball, his percentages of not giving it away were great. He’s two-footed as well with a good range of passing.
“Ali is hugely determined. He is very quiet but comes from a good family and has been brought up well. He is polite, mannerly and respectful.
“His mum and dad made a huge commitment to get him up here from the other side of Edinburgh.
“Ali was absolutely determined he was going to make it and that attitude is getting him to where he is just now.
“Although he is quiet, there is a steeliness about him. He doesn’t get fazed and seems to take everything in his stride.
“To think he is only 19 and has gone into the first team and made this transition speaks highly of him.”
Moving forward, Stevenson reckons the world is McCann’s oyster.
He said:“The fact he is so young and playing particularly well against seasoned professionals means he’ll make a name for himself very quickly.
“He has not just been playing in these games, he’s been dictating large parts of them.”
Perhaps more than anything, there comes a great sense of pride when Stevenson watches youth players make the step up.
“It makes you feel great to watch him play,”he smiled.“It gives all the coaches and scouts a lot of pride as well.
“It’s the same with Jason Kerr, Chris Kane, Zander Clark and Stevie May who all came through the academy. You’re almost looking at half a team there.”