St Mirren

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Oisin Smyth says he's ready to hit the ground running after St Mirren recalled him early from his loan spell at Partick Thistle.

The Northern Irish midfielder is back with the Buddies, who visit Premiership leaders Hearts on Wednesday night, as the League Cup winners' injury problems grow.

Captain Mark O'Hara and Australia midfielder Keanu Baccus are both out with long-term issues and Killian Phillips may require an operation on his shoulder which could rule him out for up to three months.

Smyth has made just one appearance for the Buddies in the Premiership this season, coming on as a substitute in the opening-day defeat at Celtic.

He became a key player for the promotion-chasing Jags and now wants to establish himself at the heart of Stephen Robinson's side.

"It's not a nice way to look at it but I think an injury to someone is always an opportunity," he said.

"That's what's happened here and hopefully I can kick on from that. It was a good few months at Partick Thistle and I loved my time there. But as a footballer you always want to play at the highest level.

"Getting that regular game-time again was good. I have to be thankful to Mark Wilson the manager there and obviously the sporting director as well for bringing me in and giving me game-time."

Smyth joined St Mirren from Oxford United in the summer of 2024 and made 26 appearances during his first season in Paisley, scoring four goals, without establishing himself as a regular starter.

He is ready to get stuck in now though as Robinson's side aim to climb the league.

"The loan was needed," he said. "I had a few years where I wasn't playing regularly, so to get that at Thistle was good.

"I'm ready to go straight in. Hopefully I can just bring what I normally do - energy and intensity, get my foot on the ball and help the team."

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Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow is suspended while left-backs Stephen Kingsley (groin) and Harry Milne (ankle) are expected to remain sidelined after missing the win at Dundee.

Oisin McEntee (groin), Calem Nieuwenhof, Ageu, Finlay Pollock (all hamstring) and Sander Kartum (hip) are also out.

St Mirren midfielder Killian Phillips will see a specialist to discover if a shoulder injury requires surgery, which would keep him out for three months.

Alex Gogic returns from suspension while Liam Donnelly, Dan Nlundulu and Shamal George will be assessed after weekend injuries.

Saints have recalled Oisin Smyth from his loan spell at Partick Thistle but remain without Jonah Ayunga (tendon), Mark O'Hara (ankle) and Keanu Baccus (hamstring tendon).

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before St Mirren visit Premiership leaders Hearts on Wednesday night.

Here are the key lines from the Buddies boss:

• Robinson says St Mirren's injury situation is the worst he's experienced but it is easing "a little bit".

• However, in addition to long-term injuries for Keanu Baccus, Mark O'Hara and Jonah Ayunga he has other concerns. Midfielder Killian Phillips has a tear in his shoulder and will see a specialist on Wednesday to determine whether he needs an operation.

• "It's extremes," said Robinson. "If Killian needs an operation he'll probably be out three months, if he doesn't he could probably start [against Hearts]. So we're sort of waiting on that judgement call."

• Goalkeeper Shamal George and midfielder Liam Donnelly - who both came off injured in the defeat by Falkirk - plus striker Dan Nlundalu are all doubts for the trip to Tynecastle. Robinson adds that Donnelly's injury isn't as bad as first feared.

• The Northern Irishman says Premier Sports Cup success has "certainly taken its toll" on his team. He adds: "We're trying to play catch-up games now, you're playing midweek games. The squad isn't equipped for seven or eight injuries. It's a difficult period, a difficult moment for us. I've been here plenty of times and we'll come out the other side."

• Have signed midfielder Allan Campbell this month, St Mirren are trying "very, very hard" to bring in further reinforcements but it is a "very hard window" and players "demand money that we don't have".

• Robinson's "biggest disappointment" in the Falkirk defeat was his team's lack of reaction after going behind: "We didn't do what we're good at. We went from putting 47 crosses into the box against Kilmarnock to putting in 12 in the last two games. That tells you one of the problems. We have to get back to doing what we do well, running over teams, delivering balls, pressing high and believing in ourselves."

• Despite a four-game winless run, Robinson is optimistic about the visit to leaders Hearts - who have been "fantastic this season" - and says getting a good result there "would be a surprise to many but not to me".

• He adds: "We've shown that we can compete with Hearts. We beat them in the League Cup [on penalties]. We were very unfortunate not to win the game at home [2-2 draw] due to decisions. But we need that level of performance again and we need that level of belief."

• On the departure of vice-chairman Jim Gillespie to Rangers: "We wish him all the best and we thank him for what he's done for St Mirren. In terms of the day-to-day running of the club, it doesn't really change things for me. I still deal with [chief operating officer] Keith Lasley on a daily basis."

St Mirren are set to bolster their attacking options by signing 24-year-old Stevenage striker Jake Young on a permanent deal. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

Watch Sportscene pundit Charlie Mulgrew discuss Stephen Robinson's team selection problems.

St Mirren are without several key players because of injury and have only won two of their past 14 matches.

"When you see [Keanu] Baccus, [Mark] O'Hara, [Alex] Gogic [all out] - these are three players that any team in the league would miss," said the former Scotland defender.

"You can't rip the heart out of your team and expect the same performances. They press from the outside, everything starts from the engine room and when you've got so many players missing, you're really up against it."

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St Mirren have recalled midfielder Oisin Smyth from his loan spell at Partick Thistle.

Smyth, 25, made 18 appearances for the Championship club and returns to bolster Stephen Robinson's injury-hit squad.

Since signing from Oxford in 2024, the Northern Irishman has scored four goals for the Buddies in 30 matches.

Watch highlights as St Mirren lose 2-0 against Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on St Mirren's 2-0 defeat by Falkirk on Saturday.

Here's what some of you said:

Chris: Worst performance of the season. Falkirk played us off the pitch and not one player took responsibility. Shambolic. Worrying times, only positive is Livingston and Kilmarnock are in an even worse state.

Stuart: What a pitiful display yet again. Falkirk too nippy for our pedestrian carthorses. Second string players thrown on to attempt a rescue. Bottom-six looking certain.

Marshall: Not good enough, gave nothing in the second half. Too many wrong decisions in forward areas, we really need reinforcements in the transfer window.

Douglas: For the second match in succession Saints never turned up. Never troubled Scott Bain, passing was shocking and there was very little from midfield. I know injuries to senior players take its toll but it's not an excuse. Forward players powderpuff. Sixteen goals in 20 games, less than a goal a game, relegation material. Absolute garbage!

Eddie: We are in a serious situation now, we need some new faces as soon as possible! We are fighting for our SPL status, however in Stephen Robinson we trust.

Alistair: That was dreadful, we weren't helped by injuries but the fit players didn't step up, we didn't win second balls, the midfield were overran and lightweight and overall they made poor decisions. Good support from Falkirk.

Falkirk earned back-to-back wins to start 2026 as an outstanding Finn Yeats' finish and Calvin Miller strike condemn St Mirren to a third straight Scottish Premiership defeat.

Read the full match report here.

Give us your thoughts here.

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "It's not acceptable. The last two games have been totally unacceptable. We put the game last week against Motherwell down as a one-off.

"I was quite controlled after the game, because we had been on quite a good run. But I told the players after the game, I didn't recognise that team from the one that played in the [League] Cup final, with the desire and energy, the quality.

"Our decision-making at times today was incredible. It's very hard to explain or justify. Everyone has been told it's time to step up. I defy any team in the SPFL to play without their starting midfield.

"We've not got Keanu Baccus, Mark O'Hara or Alex Gogic today. We've now got Killian Phillips, who dislocated his shoulder at half-time. Liam Donnelly came off injured after 15 minutes, and now [goalkeeper] Shamal George.

"It's not acceptable and I take total blame for it. We took the credit for winning the Cup and the top six finishes, but now I have to take this blame and motivate the boys who have knocked at my door continually.

"They have to step up and they didn't do that today. Throughout the team, decisions were poor. We need support, help, the recruitment guys to get people into the football club.

"The injuries have been incredible. We've got seven starts out. If that happened to Celtic or Rangers, they couldn't cope. We have to demand more from the players who have come in."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Mirren midfielder Killian Phillips insists their focus is on driving up the Premiership table after the high of their recent Premier Sports Cup win.

The Buddies lie 10th in the league before Saturday's home fixture against sixth-place Falkirk, albeit they have games in hand over several teams around them.

Having enjoyed three successive top-six finishes, Phillips insisted the Buddies can't just expect to match those feats once again.

"It's [top six] always on the cards," he said. "It's such a long season, there's still so many games of football to be played.

"We'll just focus on catching the team above us and then see where that keeps taking us. We know our league form has to improve. The most important thing at the minute is the league.

"We know how competitive this league is and any team can beat anyone on any given day. At the minute, we're closer to relegation than top six and that's the reality of it.

"To get up the table is the most important thing."

Manager Stephen Robinson revealed the club are close to a new singing and is seeking additions in forward areas having already brought in midfielder Allan Campbell this week.

Victory over Falkirk would reduce the gap between the sides to six points with St Mirren having played a game fewer.

"I think it's a huge game for both teams," Phillips added.

"Falkirk obviously looking to kind of pull away from the pack a little bit and cement themselves in the top six and we're looking to catch the team above us.

"We need to start picking up points sooner rather than later."

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Stephen Robinson has added former Motherwell midfielder Alan Campbell to his St Mirren squad.

Saints remain without Jonah Ayunga (tendon), Mark O'Hara (ankle) and Keanu Baccus (hamstring tendon).

Falkirk are expected to be without Lewis Neilson (ankle), Gary Oliver (hamstring), Ross MacIver (ankle) and Tom Lang (foot) although all are close to returning.

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has been speaking to the media before their Scottish Premiership match at home to Falkirk.

Here are the key points:

• Robinson says the Buddies are close to bringing in a new signing, having identified the need to recruit two in forward areas.

• "Whether that's in time for Saturday, I'm not sure, but we are actively trying to do that at this moment in time," he said. "We've got one that's very close and another one that's bubbling. It's an area that we need more bodies in, more experience in."

• Robinson admitted "it's getting harder" to get deals over the line, particularly in January given the limited resource he has at his disposal.

• "We're not the only club in the division obviously doing that," the Northern Irishman said. "There's three or four other clubs like us trying to find free transfers. That's usually what you end up with in January at our level."

• "It's trying to cherry-pick the best that suits us with good characters that you can utilise or people that have been injured that maybe are trying to find their way back again. It's something we're used to dealing with."

• However, Robinson believes the recent Premier Sports Cup final win and strong league finishes act as "a brilliant selling point" in recruiting players to the club.

• "What we can do is show them that there's a real platform to develop here," he said. "Three top-six finishes and a cup win. Miguel Freckleton had a real opportunity to go to a League One club, but he chose here. I think it's the best career decision he's made."

• The Saints boss adds: "Stories like that and success stories like the cup and the top-six finishes certainly help bridge the gap between the money because sometimes people see, and good agents see, that this is a real platform to play football in."

• Robinson described three points against Falkirk as "vitally important" off the back of defeat by Motherwell that leaves them 10th in the table, albeit with games in hand on teams around them.

• "The performance was poor last week," he admitted. "The players accepted that. I accepted that. They've reacted brilliantly to that and I reminded them of the five previous games unbeaten and the second-half performance against Rangers."

We asked for your views on what business St Mirren need to do in the January window.

Here's what some of you said:

John: St Mirren really need a striker in this transfer window.

Stevie: A striker first and foremost. Would love Ronan Hale. An attacking midfielder like Blair Spittal, and another player with pace, maybe Toyosi Olusanya back on loan? And another centre-mid.

Finn: As Jonah Ayunga is injured again I think we need to bring in another striker. Someone like Olusanya who's got that pace, flair and can create goals out of nothing. Dan Nlundulu and Mikael Mandron are both good but we just don't have that pace yet.

JayDee: Saints need a midfielder and a striker as cover for injuries. We do have Oisin Smyth at Partick Thistle and James Scott at Ross County. Both can be recalled, so we do have options 'close' to home.

Adam: We definitely need a pacy striker and a right-wing-back.

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• Since beating Dundee United 3-0 in November, Falkirk have scored just two goals in seven league games, attempting 86 shots (2.3% conversion rate) and amassing an expected goals tally of 6.84 in this time.

• St Mirren have only lost one of their past 10 top-flight matches against Falkirk (W5 D4), a 2-1 defeat in April 2010.

• This is Falkirk's first top-flight away game at St Mirren since a 1-1 stalemate in December 2009; their past three visits at this level have all been drawn.

• St Mirren have kept a clean sheet in their past three home league games, last doing so four times in a row in the top flight from March to May 2008 under Gus MacPherson, a run that included a 1-0 win over Falkirk.

• Falkirk's Dylan Tait has won more fouls (51) than any other player in the Scottish Premiership this season, while he is also one of only six players to have won possession over 100 times in the competition this term (102).

St Mirren have made Allan Campbell their first January signing, but what else do they need this month?

Stephen Robinson's side claimed the Premier Sports Cup on a memorable day at Hampden in December, but have struggled for consistency in the league, sitting 10th.

Where else do the Saints need to strengthen? And who would you like to see brought in?

Let us know

St Mirren vice-chairman Jim Gillespie is a leading contender to become Rangers' new chief executive. (Sky Sports), external

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Conor McMenamin has signed a one-year extension to his contract at St Mirren, keeping him at the Paisley outfit until the summer of 2027.

Having signed from Glentoran in July 2023, McMenamin has made 64 appearances for the Buddies, scoring six goal and assisting a further five.

The 30-year-old started the Premier Sports Cup final victory over Celtic in December and is keen to experience more success with the club.

"I'm delighted to sign a new contract," the Northern Irish winger said.

"We've had brilliant success here since I joined the club and signing this new deal makes me hungry for more. Hopefully we can achieve that as a collective.

"I'm really enjoying my time here. It's a great club and I'm happy to get it signed and we can focus on what's in front of us now and hopefully start winning games.

"I'm settled here and have a baby on the way so everything seemed to fit. I'm looking forward to seeing what the next year or so holds."

Manager Stephen Robinson added: "Conor is somebody that we had real high hopes for. He's had injury problems and struggled a little bit in the first season, but we know his quality.

"I think he's been excellent this season, one of our best players in the last few weeks, and we wanted to keep him at the club.

"He plays in numerous positions and he's a real character around the place, but also someone with immense talent who can influence games."

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St Mirren have completed the "fantastic signing" of midfielder Allan Campbell on a deal until the end of the season.

The 27-year-old former Scotland cap has been without a club since leaving Dundee United last summer.

Campbell began his career with Motherwell - where he worked under current Saints boss Stephen Robinson - and made 160 appearances before joining Luton Town in 2021.

He helped the Hatters win promotion to the Premier League in 2023 before falling out favour and spending time on loan at Millwall and Charlton.

Manager Robinson said: "I've worked with Allan before. He's gone down to England and done very well. He's the right type of character and he's got a lot of quality.

"He hasn't played football for a little while. But on a short-term contract, we think he's a fantastic signing and will be very good around the place as well. Allan's someone with immense talent that could influence games.

"With our numbers being short in midfield, he seemed like the perfect solution and we're confident that he'll be a real asset towards the end of the season."

Campbell, whose sole Scotland appearance came in the 4-1 Nations League win over Armenia in June 2022, is relishing the reunion with Robinson at the League Cup winners.

"He was the one who gave me my real start in professional football, played me, backed me, and developed me a lot as a player," he said.

"When the opportunity came up to come back and play football under him, I thought it was a great opportunity.

"I can't wait to get back playing. I keep myself well. That's one thing I pride myself on, working hard off the pitch, so I've been keeping busy, making sure that I'm ready for when I get the chance and hopefully that'll be soon."

Andrew Christie
Fan writer

January doesn't care what you've just won. It arrives anyway, checking bodies, counting absences, and whispering that good feelings only last as long as the squad can make them.

St Mirren's sorry 2-0 defeat at Motherwell on Saturday didn't erase the memory of the League Cup, but it did make the margins feel smaller. This is a team that has earned patience in Paisley, but it's also one that currently has very little slack.

Being 10th in the league at the turn of the year is enough to tighten jaws, but context matters. The cup win has raised expectations without masking the challenges ahead. There's no panic here, just a quiet recognition: January will shape how smooth - or jagged - the next few months feel.

And availability matters. Mark O'Hara and Jonah Ayunga are both out for several weeks, and Keanu Baccus remains on the sidelines. The squad is slim and every absence is obvious. There's little room for rotation, less for experimentation, and almost none for bad luck.

Central midfield is where the strain hits hardest. O'Hara's injury robs the team of organisation and authority, and Baccus' absence removes drive from the engine room.

Alex Gogic and Killian Phillips have carried a heavy load, but the side has sometimes looked solid rather than inspiring. What's missing is invention - a player who can take the ball in tight spaces, change the angle of an attack, and give St Mirren a new tempo. That kind of addition would be transformative without needing fireworks.

Elsewhere, the needs are smaller but no less urgent. Right wing-back competition would help with the crowded fixture list, while Ayunga's tendon injury, so soon after his cup final heroics, leaves Mikael Mandron and Dan Nlundulu as the only senior attacking options.

The team is thinner up front than anyone wants and one more forward option could stop it all from wobbling.

This isn't the moment for upheaval. St Mirren don't need rescuing and they don't need wholesale change. But a few precise, clever additions could turn what is already a proud, confident squad into something even harder to play against.

Get January right, and the cup win doesn't become an "aye, but at least we…". It hangs in the here and now, shaping what this season becomes rather than just explaining how we'll talk about it in years to come.

Andrew Christie can be found at Misery Hunters, external