Under-21s ace Magennis says Prem life has been tough on Buddies
THE pressures have already cost Alan Stubbs his job but Kyle Magennis insists he is relishing the challenge of trying to make a succes of St Mirren’s step up to the Premiership.
Stubbs was sacked on Monday night after less than three months as Buddies manager, with the team languishing in second-bottom of the top-flight following just one win from their opening four matches.
Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle proved to be the final straw for the Paisley board, who decided enough was enough and axed the former Hibs boss just a month into the league campaign.
But, despite defeats to Rangers, Aberdeen, Livingston and Hearts, Magennis is revelling in the top flight less than two years after making his first-team breakthrough.
The 20-year-old said: “It was always going to be hard for us because we are playing against better teams. We have had a lot of new players come in and it was always going to take time.
“Personally, it’s been brilliant for me to be playing in the Premiership. I’ve started the past four games and it’s good for me to be playing against better players – that can only improve your game.
“If I was still playing youth football I wouldn’t be half the player I am just now.”
Magennis has gone quickly from a youngster to a top-team regular since being handed his breakthrough by Stubbs’ revered predecessor Jack Ross.
Capped four times by Scotland at under-20 level, Magennis is hopeful tomorrow night’s Euro qualifier against Andorra can finally bring him his under-21s debut.
“It will be a proud moment for me and my family if I get to play. It’s what you dream of when you are a young boy,” he said.
“The last time they had a bus full of about 30 family members through to the Ukraine game, so they were a bit disappointed when I didn’t play although I think they just wanted a drink on the bus!”