McLean insists the best is still to come Kenny McLean is confident there is plenty more to come from him this season as he aims to top his efforts from last term. The St Mirren midfielder capped an impressive campaign with a call-up to the Scotland Under-21 squad and a nomination for the Scottish PFA Young Player of the Year award. The 20-year-old knows he is capable of performing better than he has done in games so far this season but believes he can live up to the expectations. He said: "This season, I started okay but I want to do better. "Last season, there was some expectation on myself after getting into the Under-21s squad and the nomination for the young player of the year. "I think expectations are a bit higher than how I've started the season. "I feel there is more to come from myself and hopefully that will come. "I wouldn't say there is pressure on me - I'm delighted to be in the position that I'm in - but I'm confident that I can do better this season. "If there is a bit of pressure there then I'm happy to deal with it in the right way." McLean says his confidence has been boosted after making his debut for the Scotland Under-21 side against Luxembourg in Paisley last week, even though the young Scots failed to secure a play-off spot for the European Championships. He said: "It was good to get away and meet up with the boys. It was a good experience. "Obviously it was a disappointing outcome but it was good to be involved and I'm available for the next one as well. "Coming out at St Mirren Park for my debut with a Scotland jersey on was an honour. "Being involved with the international squad gives you massive confidence. "For me, coming back to my club, it's given my confidence a boost so hopefully I'll take that into games and do better." St Mirren host Hearts in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on Saturday as they aim to add to their one victory so far. Buddies boss Danny Lennon said: "They've always been very difficult games against Hearts. "We've always had entertaining games with Hearts and I expect nothing less this time." Mehdi Taouil is certain Hearts will soon be scoring plenty of goals and the forward aims to be involved in creating chances as well as converting them. Manager John McGlynn is keen to sharpen his side's attacking ability and Taouil, who has netted just twice in over a season at Tynecastle, hopes to play a full part. The 29-year-old Morocco international said: "There are good and quality players in the offensive area, even if recently they've not been scoring. "I'm sure they will pretty soon and hopefully it's going to bring us some points. "I would like to score, to create goals, (but) it's a team job and if someone else scores and we get three points, I will be as happy as if I had scored." Hearts have six points from five games this term entering Saturday's clash and sit in mid-table in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. The Scottish Cup winners have not won since the opening day of the season, when they beat St Johnstone 2-0, having drawn with Hibernian, Inverness and Aberdeen and lost to Dundee last time out. McGlynn's men lost a two-legged Europa League tie to Liverpool by a solitary goal and Taouil insists the ability is present to have a strong season at Tynecastle, although he declined to reveal what the side's ambitions were. "We're going to do everything to show that we can do it," Taouil said. "We already showed that there is quality in that group, even if a lot of players have left. We matched Liverpool over two legs. "I think if everybody gives everything, we can really do big things this season. "It's a bit early in the season to tell what the goals are, but we want to do as best as possible. We will see at the end of the season." The Paisley trip is the first challenge and Taouil is looking forward to facing a side keen to play a passing game which he favours himself. "St Mirren is going to be a hard game, a tough game," he added. "They are a team who like to play football. We've got to go there and look for a win. "It's nice to play against teams like that. They like to play with the ball on the deck. "It's going to be a good game and hopefully we'll come back with three points." end
Source: PA
