Goodwin: Teale has a lot of bottle
Jim Goodwin has hailed caretaker manager Gary Teale for having the courage to throw teenagers Stephen Mallan and Lewis McLear into their relegation fight.
The 18-year-olds responded by helping record a 3-1 win at Dundee as part of a Saints starting line-up that featured seven of the club's academy graduates.
The victory took the Paisley side off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership ahead of the New Year's Day clash with Kilmarnock.
Goodwin said: "I think it takes a lot of bottle from the manager to throw the kids in at a really, really serious time. But they have stepped up to the plate massively.
"We had it last year with Sean Kelly and Jason (Naismith). They were thrown in at the deep end and they handled it perfectly and now it is looking like Lewis and Stevie are doing the same."
Mallan lit up the Dens Park clash with a stunning solo goal, winning the ball inside his own half before curling home from 20 yards following several pieces of skill.
"It was fantastic," Goodwin said. "Someone said he had three million hits on YouTube.
"If it was Lionel Messi or Ronaldo that scored it, I'm pretty sure it would have a hell of a lot more hits as well and we would be seeing it a hell of a lot more on TV.
"He has great potential Stevie to go on and have a great career in the game and I think it's important we help keep his feet on the ground. Not only is he a technically very good footballer but a lovely lad off the pitch as well and a very level-headed boy."
Goodwin recently lost his coaching role on the back of two red cards this season, one a retrospective punishment, but the former club captain remains committed to helping his new first-team colleagues progress.
"As a senior player you need to try to advise and look out for the young kids and lead by example," the 33-year-old said.
"I have always tried that everywhere I have been, to show a good example in training and being in the gym and trying to live your lifestyle the right way.
"I think Stevie can have a much better career than I have had if he reaches the levels that we think he is capable of.
"Young Lewis McLear has maybe not grabbed the headlines the way Stevie has because of his goal but the wee man has come in and done great as well."
St Mirren have named an unchanged squad. Striker Steven Thompson serves the second game of his two-match ban.
Kilmarnock left-back Chris Chantler is expected to be fit despite being forced off against Hamilton with a foot knock.
Allan Johnston could have an unchanged squad although Tope Obadeyi could return from a knock.
Right-back Darryl Westlake (ankle), midfielder Sammy Clingan (hamstring) and striker Michael Ngoo (ankle) remain out.
Kilmarnock defender Mark Connolly is relishing his side's trip after they finally ended their long run without a win.
Connolly admitted an eight-game spell without victory had got him down but his spirits were immediately lifted after Alexei Eremenko's last-gasp free-kick handed Johnston's men a 1-0 win over Hamilton on Saturday.
The result was timely as the Saints also picked up a win against Dundee, bringing an end to their own run of nine games without a victory.
"It's been coming the past few games, we've been a bit unlucky," Connolly said.
"Eremenko, his free-kick was unbelievable. You could see, not just with the players but with everyone in the ground, it was a big sigh of relief.
"St Mirren won as well so it's going to be a tough game on Thursday, but we're looking forward to it.
"That's a massive result for them, Dundee aren't a bad team, and it's going to be a difficult one. No game in this league is easy and they're fighting for their lives to stay away from the bottom.
"That'll give us a lot of confidence that three points, and hopefully we can get the result on Thursday."
Source: PA
