Saint Connor would love to add to his tally of wonder strikes
Connor Ronan believes that playing in Scotland has been a turning point in his career.
The St Mirren midfielder still has hopes of playing Premier League football with Wolves and feels that’s no long-shot thanks to his performances this season.
Ronan has become known as a man for the big occasion – long-range goals against Rangers and Hearts highlighted his ability to fans around the country.
He’d love to find another spectacular strike when Rangers come to Paisley today.
Although the 24-yearold isn’t sure where he’ll be strutting his stuff next term, he wants to make sure the Buddies have a positive end to the current campaign.
His time with the club has been his sixth loan spell away from Molineux in six years.
He said: “I’m 100% focused on what I need to do for St Mirren. I’ve had conversations with the gaffer here about next season.
“I came up here with goals in mind of what I wanted to do, and I’d like to think I’ve had a successful period.
“I’m just concentrating on finishing the season here.
“Then I’ll go back down to Wolves and have that conversation with them about what the plan is for me.
“The past few years, I’ve always gone back and they’ve done what they feel has been best for my career.
“I think it will be the same again in the summer.
“I’ve had enough loan spells now where I’ve done well and played the right amount of games, although maybe not affected them as much as I would have liked.
“That was one of my main goals in coming up here. Not just to play every week but to make an impact in games and stand out. “I feel I’ve done that. “That’s been a turning point for me this season, having more of an impact, having big moments to affect games with goals or assists.”
Rangers’ goalie Allan Mcgregor will have to be alert for a Ronan long-range effort because he’s got the taste for cracking one in from distance.
He went on: “I started off with the two goals against Aberdeen early on. And I think that helped me massively throughout the season.
“It almost relieves that pressure a bit, getting those goals so quickly in the season. It set me up nicely, confidence-wise.
“I believed that I was going to get a few more goals this season.
“When that one went in against Rangers, from a longer range, it gives you the confidence to take on the shots.
“Even when you might not think they’re on, it’s still worth having a go.
“I think you can only take confidence from past experiences. This season there have been a few long range efforts and you’ve got to take belief from that. Believe in yourself when you’re having a go from long range.”
Although the Buddies have struggled for victories under new manager Stephen Robinson, Ronan believes the club remains on track for continued success.
He said: “It’s never easy when a new boss arrives in the middle of the season.
“But I think, a feeling from within the club and the training ground, it’s been fairly seamless.
“Obviously, results more than performances haven’t gone as planned.
“I think the performances show we’re going in the right direction, but the results aren’t what we would’ve liked.
“It’s game-by-game for us at the moment and this is a big one against Rangers.”