Oran: Now play for your place
St Mirren manager Oran Kearney has laid down the gauntlet to his players if they want to secure their futures.
Kearney insists all spots are up for grabs in the side ahead of an expected influx of players during the January transfer window.
He said: “I think it’s safe to say that everyone is playing for their futures. That goes without saying.
“Even though we’ve picked a team and gone with certain personnel in the first couple of weeks, everybody is under that constraint at the minute where they are all playing to be a part of what it looks like moving forward.
“I think that’s only fair. We have arranged quite a few bounce games the past few Tuesdays and have another this Tuesday.
“That’s so we get to run our eye over the players who didn’t get any game time on the Saturday.
“It’s to make sure that we are doing it fairly and that we’re not missing anything that’s right in front of us.” Craig Ritchie
They used to battle it out for the bragging rights but St Mirren defender Paul McGinn admits there is no contest anymore following brother John’s wonder strike against Sheffield Wednesday.
Scotland international and Aston Villa midfielder John, a member of Saints’ 2013 League Cup-winning side, has become an internet sensation for his stunning volley last weekend.
Millions over the world have watched the clip as the 24-year-old pings the ball into the top corner from 30 yards.
The full-back admits the strike is a world away from anything he would even begin to consider trying to pull off. And he concedes the fun and games might as well be out the window, as Paul, John and Saints skipper Stephen, battle it out to see who is the top scorer in the family. McGinn said: “I don’t think you are ever going to score a better g goal, are you? “He said he wasn’t that good in the game though because they got beat.
“Seriously, I honestly don’t know if I have seen a better goal – and I’m not just saying that because he’s my brother.
“The angle you see from behind the goal as he wheels away celebrating before it was even in was brilliant. It was my one bright spark from last Saturday.
“We used to have a bit of a competition for top goalscorer – but it is not really fair for me as a defender.
“I think this is the first season I have ever even went up for corners so what chance have I got? It was just for bragging rights but it wasn’t really fair.”
McGinn will be up against his brother’s former side this afternoon as Neil Lennon’s Hibs are the visitors.
And the 27-year-old admits it is paramount that the Buddies give a good account of themselves following last weekend’s loss to Hamilton.
McGinn added: “We could do with a result.
“Aside from the Livingston game we have been good here so hopefully we can continue that.
“I was at Thistle last year when, after seven games, they had no points so we are in better shape than that.
“It is hard because the manager needs to come in and see everyone.
“Would anyone look at Motherwell and say they have had a terrible start to the season? No.
“We are on the same points as them so we are not worrying at all.
“I am sure we will create chances and score goals.” (Adjacent to Kwik Save car park, Paisley Road West)