Mark O’Hara believes St Mirren’s top young talents are keeping the club’s experienced players right on their toes.
The Buddies midfielder has been hugely impressed by the academy talents Stephen Robinson has brought into the first team this season.
The likes of Fraser Taylor, Luke Kenny and Kieran Offord have all been pushing hard for an opportunity to shine at Ralston, with Lewis Jamieson also forcing his way into the reckoning in recent weeks.
Taylor and Offord, both 19, have both tasted first team action throughout the campaign, with Taylor coming on as a sub against Celtic and Aberdeen while Offord has made seven appearances off the bench since January.
21-year-old Jamieson, meanwhile, has got minutes in both of the club’s last two fixtures, against Hibs and Hearts.
Experienced O’Hara insists that pressure to keep up with the club’s prospects, in training especially, has helped push the Saints on all season.
Speaking exclusively to the Paisley Daily Express, O’Hara said: “Fraser Taylor is seriously quality. He’s two-footed, has a great engine and is consistently one of the best performers in training.
“Luke Kenny has been really impressive too.
“LJ is one of the best finishers at the club and he’s been working seriously hard as well. He’s got great quality, which he proved in the first half of the season at Airdrie.
“All of the younger boys are determined to get through to the next level and that is great for both them and the more experienced boys.
“Everyone in our squad is hungry for that shirt and that is how you build a good team ethic.
“I’m sure that’s helped us massively throughout the season, because no one is able to let their standards drop. If they do, someone is right on their heels ready to take their place.”
While some managers only pay lip service to giving young players a proper chance to shine in the first team, O’Hara has seen Robinson regularly give starlets opportunities to impress at both Motherwell and St Mirren.
Taylor, Offord and Jamieson have all featured in the stripes this season, while at Fir Park the gaffer helped bring through the likes of David Turnbull, Allan Campbell and Jake Hastie.
O’Hara hopes to see even more academy youngsters capitalise on Robinson’s intent to develop as many young stars in Paisley as he possibly can.
He said: “The manager has a track record of developing young players and giving them that chance to prove themselves.
“If they earn it on the training pitch, they will get their chance.
“I’ve always thought that if you’re good enough, you’re old enough and I think the manager feels that way too.
“As an older player, you want your team to have the best possible 11 going forward.
“I hope all of our young players make it through and help to make us even stronger next season.”
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