Splitting the first team is paying off
Competitive edge is key, says gaffer
St Mirren boss Oran Kearney insists dividing his squad in two is paying dividends following Alfie Jones’ return to the first team.
The Welshman had found himself turfed out of first- team training and toughing it out with the reserves following Kearney’s arrival to the squad.
The Southampton loanee spoke last week of saving his St Mirren career after realising that he would have to knuckle down to get back in the mix.
Kearney believes that adding that competitive edge to training has resulted in an upturn in quality throughout the week.
And if that means that players who had otherwise looked out of the picture, force themselves back into it, then he is all for it.
Kearney said: “It is what it is. We have a huge squad that’s too big to be honest with you.
“We have been picky and choosy from that point of view and I suppose it has created a competitive aspect to training.
“All credit to the likes of Alfie, in particular, who found himself training with that group but retained an excellent attitude and application.
“He has worked himself back into the reckoning again and it’s all credit to himself.
“I hope it is helping. I will take any inch I can get and any added advantage.”
However, Kearney reckons that as professional footballers, the players shouldn’t require the shock to being dropped to the reserves to jolt them back to their best.
He added: “They shouldn’t need that. I’d be very concerned if some of them needed a kick up the backside.
“But it could possibly be the case.
“There is perhaps a comfort zone and it is not nice to have that there.
“It is important that we have that competitive edge around the club, nevermind the first-team squad.”