BY ALAN TEMPLE – Capital City Press
Ian Murray reckons Stephen Mallan will be a “marked man” after his latest wonder-goal for the Buddies.
The 19-year-old claimed PFA Scotland Goal of the Season for his solo strike against Dundee last term – and he produced a contender to retain the gong in yesterday’s narrow 1-0 win against Livingston.
He showed wonderful movement to pick out a pocket of space 30 yards from goal, before unleashing a sensational drive beyond the helpless Marc McCallum to ensure the visitors escaped West Lothian with a precious three points.
St Mirren boss Ian Murray said: “It was an exceptional strike and something we see all the time in training – but Stevie is now taking that into games.
“At the start of the season, he was in and out of the team and we had a word and laid down the gauntlet to him.
“He has responded in the most amazing fashion. He has incredible quality for this league. At this level, having a player as good as Stevie could be a massive thing for us.
“The challenge now is Stevie will be a marked man, and he needs to find a way to still put in that level of performance.”
