KYLE TO KEEP BUDDIES SAFE
TEAMSHEET
KYLE McALLISTER is determined to steer St Mirren to top-flight safety before starring for Derby County.
McAllister signed a three-year deal with the English Championship side from Saints in 2017 but has yet to kick a ball for the Rams first team.
The on-loan midfielder had spent almost two seasons on the sidelines with a groin injury.
And McAllister, 20, who has one year of his deal at Pride Park to run, admits he has everything to prove not only to himself but to Derby boss Frank Lampard.
He said: “It would be massive for me to help St Mirren avoid relegation.
“It would be a massive achievement for me if I helped to keep them up. I’ve felt the expectation.
“Knowing I am just back from injury I feel I have to prove myself as two years out was long for me.
“I feel I even have to prove myself to Derby because they’ve rarely had the chance to see me play.
“After I left St Mirren they always tried to get me back on loan but I was injured so it wasn’t possible.
“When I heard they had come back in for me it was the first thing on my mind that I wanted to come back to help them.
“St Mirren played a massive part in me becoming a professional GARY WOODS is back in contention for Hamilton after the keeper’s recovery from a groin complaint.
Defender Matt Kilgallon (ankle) is still out and striker James Keatings has left Accies.
St Mirren hope Ryan Flynn will shake off a knock with Anders Dreyer (knee), Danny Rogers (knee) and Greg Tansey (bone infection) remaining out. Cammy MacPherson (ankle) is a major doubt. player so I want to help them stay up. Derby have left me to get on with my season, as soon as it ends I’m sure they’ll talk to me.
“I’ve been speaking to a few people but I don’t really talk to the coaches as they are busy getting on with the play-offs.
“It would nice to go back down south having kept St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership and with Derby also having reached the Premier League.”
McAllister is relishing tonight’s home clash against Hamilton as the Saints look to take the relegation play-off issue to a final-day nerve shredder.
Oran Kearney’s men must win their last two games and hope St Johnstone beat Accies in order to automatically preserve their Premiership status.
McAllister added: “We are excited and have a great team spirit.We just need the players to step up.”