Howieson puts club before country to reignite his career
CAMERON HOWIESON has put the high life as a globetrotting New Zealand internationalist on the backburner to set about rebuilding his career from the ground up at St Mirren.
The 20-year-old midfielder has won nine caps for the All Whites, but he insists he has to put down roots and concentrate on the basics of his game in Paisley after signing a one-year deal with a further one-year option in the wake of being released by Burnley.
Howieson was the youngest ever Kiwi to play in the English Football League at 17 years and 103 days and made such an impression after arriving at Turf Moor that he was once being scouted by Liverpool and Newcastle United. However, he admits he has not made the progress expected over the past couple of seasons and is eager to begin a fruitful new chapter with this afternoon’s visit of Berwick Rangers to Greenhill Road in the first round of the Petrofac Training Cup.
“I have had a lot of international football over the last few years, but I just need to play after leaving Burnley and I have put that to a stop for now,” he said. “I need to get games under my belt and see how it goes.
“I did well in my first two years at Burnley, but I didn’t really push on over the last two and I need to get my name back out there and do well. There were big expectations when I got into the first team at Burnley, but I was very young. I just hope I can now prove to myself and others what I can do.”
Howieson is half-Scottish with his father David having moved from Edinburgh to New Zealand’s South Island when he was just seven years of age. Indeed, the move to St Mirren following a successful trial spell has ended up being something of a homecoming for that side of the family.
“He has actually moved back over here to watch me play football, so he will be here for all the games,” said Howieson, whose mother is of Samoan descent. “I have lots of family here too. My dad came back a couple of years ago and he loves his football. He will go wherever I go.”
Saints manager Ian Murray has high hopes for Howieson, who can play either on the left side of midfield or in the centre, and insists the decision to put club before country was entirely his.
“He is a New Zealand internationalist and the travelling involved in that is pretty hectic,” he said. “We will cut back on that to let him concentrate on playing regular first-team football.
“Qualifying competitions are a concern because there is nothing we can do about that, but Cammy assures us he will not be reporting for any friendly matches if it is going to harm his chances here. This is nothing to do with me. It is his choice. He says he is ready to sacrifice his international career to be here. I look at Cammy and think that he can play in a number of positions.”
Howieson will make his debut this afternoon along with his former Burnley teammate Luke Conlan, who has agreed a 12-month loan deal from the English Championship club.
“I think Cameron and I are going to get an apartment together,” said the Northern Ireland Under-21 internationalist. “He can look after me. We used to hang around together at weekends at Burnley and know each other well.”
Conlan has been signed to play at left back by Murray with the Buddies boss clearly keen to develop certain aspects of his game.
“He is a typical Burnley-type player,” said Murray. “He does not make many mistakes. I hope we can improve his offensive play a little, but he is highly rated down there and comes from a great background.”
Murray has also made it clear that he wants his side to hit the ground running with the Petrofac Training Cup a target.
“At the moment, it is vital,” he said. “It is a competition I think we can win.”
Of course, Murray is still building his squad in the wake of St Mirren getting rid of an entire team of players in the summer and insists he is still very active in the market.
“We have probably got scope to bring in another four or five players because we have done really well with who we have brought in and what we have brought them in on,” he said.
There were big expectations when I got into the first team at Burnley, but I was very young. I just hope I can now prove to myself and others what I can do