Kearney eyes Jackson deal after keeper Lyness signs

St Mirren boss Oran Kearney is keen to tie up a deal for frontman Simeon Jackson and is also considering a move for former Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis Mcgugan.

Former Blackburn and Norwich forward Jackson has been handed the chance to impress on trial and took advantage by scoring a hat-trick in a training-ground bounce game with Dundee United.

Now Kearney has confirmed he is looking to push through signing talks with the 31-year-old Canada international.

Mcgugan, 29, is also on the Buddies boss’ radar after he was invited to train with Kearney’s Paisley squad but it appears former Fiorentina-youth Cedric Gondo will not be joining the Saints squad.

Kearney – who has signed goalkeeperdeanlynesson a deal until the new year – said: “We had three trialists in but one has gone back.

“However, Simeon Jackson at this point in time has done well and looked quite positive. He scored a hat-trick in a bounce game this week and we’d be keen to do something there.

“Lewis Mcgugan is going to be with us for a week or so, so we’ll see how that goes.”

But Kearney admits he is already looking to trim his bloated squad. The former Coleraine boss was brought in earlier this month to turn around the club’s fortunes after the sacking of Alan Stubbs, who departed just four games into the Premiership season.

And now the new Saints manager has confessed he has too many players for his liking.

“It’s a big squad we have,” he said. “I think we’re sitting around the 28, 29 or possibly even 30 mark. It’s big and it’s something we’ll have to look at.

“We’re still getting to know everybody and I suppose working out a good profile of the squad. It’s a massive job and we know that. But we’re getting to the point where we have a better understanding of the squad and it’s something we’re going to have to manage going forward.”