The Sunday Post (Dundee)

So, when was the last time you saw Kylian Mbappe at Stair Park?

- By Craig Stewart SPORT@SUNDAYPOST.COM Kylian Mbappe

Stranraer striker Ruari Paton has already channelled his inner Connor Mcgregor, Michael Jackson and Michael Flatley this season.

He has vowed to continue his unique series of celebratio­ns if he can help dump one of his former clubs, Hibs, out of the Scottish Cup today.

So prepare for the rare sight of a Kylian Mbappe if he scores in the match, which kicks-off at 12.15pm this afternoon.

The 20-year-old spent three years in the Hibees youth ranks after making the move across the Irish Sea, aged just 16, and he has set his sights on helping the League Two outfit produce a major Cup upset.

Despite a successful loan spell at Gala Fairydean, Paton was released from Easter Road in 2019, and he joined up with Lowland League side, East Kilbride, before making the switch to Stair Park last summer.

The move has enabled Paton to kick-start his career.

The Dubliner explained: “When I was let go by Hibs, it was a really hard time. I really thought about packing my things up and going home, before deciding to work my way back up.

“I always thought I could drop down the levels, and prove that I could do well. Some people can maybe misinterpr­et that as arrogance, but once the disappoint­ment eased, I knew I was not going to quit because of one opinion.

“You only need to look at Andy Robertson, and Kevin Nisbet.

“They were told they were not good enough, and dropped down to the lower leagues.

“But both guys then worked their way back u p, and are now both full Scotland internatio­nals.

“That just shows you how football can change so quickly, and one person’s opinion doesn’t define you.

“I put in a tremendous amount of work, and have unbelievab­le self-belief.

“I am really enjoying myself at Stranraer but, of course, I am ambitious. If I can keep scoring, I back my ability to be able to progress further again.

“I definitely needed the fresh start, so I put my full heart into the move, and it has worked out well for me.

“The recruitmen­t has been very good at Stair Park, and a lot of the boys have played, or could play, at a higher level. “

Paton’s nine goals this season, and his mad-cap celebratio­ns, have caught the imaginatio­n of the Stranraer faithful, and gone viral online.

He joked: “I have had a few celebratio­ns now that people seem to have picked up on.

“Sometimes they are premeditat­ed, but other times the emotions just rush over you when you score.

“I might need to do a front flip, or the Mbappe celebratio­n, if I score against Hibs!

“You’re only here once, so you might as well have a bit of fun with it.”

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 ??  ?? Ruari Paton (left) after Stranraer had knocked out Kelty Hearts in an earlier round of the Scottish Cup
Ruari Paton (left) after Stranraer had knocked out Kelty Hearts in an earlier round of the Scottish Cup

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