Boot duty won’t dirty goal gloss for Mallan
STEVIE MALLAN may have attracted worldwide attention for his stunning solo goal against Dundee last month but he has revealed that global appreciation did not extend to the St Mirren training ground.
There have been over four million views of Mallan’s r e markable effort on December 27 on social media platforms after he waltzed through challenges from halfway and tucked a superb shot into the right corner of the net.
But he was brought crashing down to earth two days later — finding himself cleaning boots and carrying out the normal chores of a Buddies youth player as he coped with j i bes of ‘Mallandona’ and ‘Baby Messi’.
Despite that, the 18-year- old insists he is overwhelmed by the response to his strike and will never tire of watching it.
‘ I’m definitely not sick of watching my goal yet,’ admitted Mallan. ‘I watch it every day. It’s all over my news feed.
‘I’ve watched it on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. They say it’s the most watched clip, so probably half of the views have been from me and my family.
‘My friends have tagged me in comments from other people so I can see them calling me the new Messi.
‘It’s been a bit overwhelming. I can’t believe the publicity. The best thing was seeing the goal on Soccer AM. But the Monday after that goal I was cleaning the boots. I cleaned Callum Ball and Adam Drury’s boots. I was in as usual to do my d duties.
‘I’m an Under-20 player, so I have to do all the duties. I clean the boots and lay out e everything for the manager.’
Mallan — who has been named SPFL Young Player of the Month for December — is hoping he will not become known as a one-hit wonder
‘ The f i rst thought that c came into my head was to dribble and i t paid off,’ he added. ‘All the way along I was looking for a pass and then I thought I’d shoot, b because (caretaker manager) G Gary Teale has been telling me to shoot more.
‘I hit the shot and couldn’t believe when I scored. Straight afterwards, all the boys were talking about what a good goal it was — but I couldn’t remember it.
‘ They were saying I had nutmegged three or four people along the way, but it wasn’t quite that good when I watched it back.
‘They wind me up by saying I’ve got too big for my boots and they take the mickey a bit.
‘Some people have been calling me Messi. I ’ ve also heard “Mallandona”. I just let it wash over me.’
Mallan burst on to the scene in November when he made his debut at Hamilton and he has played in the last six matches, exceeding his own expectations.
‘My aim was to get on the bench before the Christmas break,’ he admitted.
‘Then (former boss) Tommy Craig gave me my debut against Hamilton. I couldn’t believe it.
‘I was shocked, but I’ve stayed in the team. I can’t believe I’ve had that many starts or that I have been named Young Player of the Month, either. That’s such an achievement.’
St Mirren are joint bottom of the Premiership table and Mallan knows they must start picking up points. Their task today could hardly be more arduous, though, as Aberdeen travel to Paisley.
‘Aberdeen are flying just now,’ he said. ‘They have had seven straight wins and have a chance to win the league.
‘They’ve played every team and don’t look like losing.
‘It’s a big couple of weeks for us. Hopefully we get a good result against Aberdeen and Ross County away the following week.
As Mallan and his team-mates try t o ensure Premiership survival, the future ownership of St Mirren is back in the melting pot after the Buddies distanced themselves from Engli s h consortium Aspirational Holdings Inc.
It was revealed that one of the group’s advisors, Thaver Mohammed, a 52-year-old from Newcastle, was sentenced to six months in prison in 2011 after being found guilty of conducting a bogus business deal.
AHI wanted to build a hotel next to St Mirren Park and develop land into a long-stay car park for travellers at nearby Glasgow Airport. They also aimed to install f ormer Liverpool midfielder David Thompson as manager.
However, it appears chairman Stewart Gilmour and the others who are seeking to sell their 52-per-cent stake in the club have gone cold on the proposed deal.
Meanwhile, Ross Caldwell, signed f rom Hibernian l ast season, has had his contract terminated after making just two starts and 13 substitute appearances.