Stevie Mallan has been handed the chance of a possible St Mirren return, but striker Mikael Mandron has decided to move on. Boss Craig McLeish has taken Mallan with him on the Buddies’ pre-season trip to Spain.
Mallan impresses in pre-season
The 30-year-old played in a bounce game against Hearts and is likely to feature against Murcia on Saturday. Mallan is a free agent after leaving St Johnstone, following their Championship win. The midfielder came through the ranks with the Buddies before he moved to Barnsley back in 2017. He has since had spells with Hibs, Yeni Malatyaspor and Salford City.
McLeish also has another former Saints graduate in Dylan Reid on trial, along with Middlesbrough winger Micah Hamilton. McLeish confirmed: “He (Mallan) came in and did pre-season with our under-19s last year. He came off the back of an injury then. He had a decent season last season at St Johnstone. He has found himself without a club and we have said he can come in and train with us. He did that well in the first week that we said we need to take a look at this. We got him a place on the trip here, along with Dylan Reid. Micha Hamilton is also out with us. He felt something on Wednesday, so he wasn’t involved in the Hearts game, but hopefully, we can get him training and we can get a look at him on Saturday. We had another trialist join us as well but he got injured in the second session, so unfortunately he won’t be able to take that opportunity with us.”
Mandron moves on for lucrative deal
St Mirren have confirmed striker Mandron has turned down a new contract and will move on. The Premier Sports Cup hero is set for a more lucrative move abroad. McLeish admitted: “Mika has different options in different countries. I have spoken to him. He loved his time here and we love him here. He wishes he could stay but it is a financial decision that he has to make for himself and his family. You need to respect that as well. He has been a great servant for us as well. He is one we would have loved to have kept. We made an offer to him, we just couldn’t get anywhere near the offers he has already got.”
Ayunga offered new deal despite injury
Fellow striker Jonah Ayunga is also out-of-contract. He is set to be offered a new deal, as he recovers from a ruptured anterior cruciate injury suffered in April. The Kenyan international is expected to be fit for the turn of the year. “It is not finalised yet,” the St Mirren boss insisted. “We are trying to get a contract sorted. We want to look after him and get him through his injury and rehab. That should feel like a January signing for us. Jonah should come back into the fold at that time. The rehab he has in front of him will be difficult. He knows that, he has done that before and come back stronger from it. That is what we are hoping for again.”
Positive pre-season camp in Spain
St Mirren have been training at Pinatar near Alicante all week. Saints took on Hearts in a friendly during the week. McLeish has been pleased with the camp and the chance to bond his new-look squad. “We trained twice on Friday and we finish the week off with the game on Saturday morning,” the St Mirren manager added. “It has been really good and will be important for us. The amount of time we spend here at the facility is great for all the boys and it is also important when it comes to integrating the new boys. The facilities we have got access to here have been first-class and it has been a really positive week for us.”
