St Mirren give Stevie Mallan trial chance as Craig McLeish confirms Mandron exit

St Mirren boss Craig McLeish has given former Buddies midfielder Stevie Mallan the chance to earn a return to the club, taking the free agent on the Paisley side’s pre-season trip to Spain. At the same time, McLeish has confirmed that striker Mikael Mandron will leave after turning down a new contract at the Championship-bound club.

Mallan, 30, came through the youth ranks at St Mirren before departing for Barnsley in 2017. He has since had spells at Hibernian, Turkish side Yeni Malatyaspor and Salford City, and became a free agent after leaving St Johnstone following their Championship title success.

Mallan given fresh look after training with under-19s

The midfielder featured in a friendly against Hearts during the training camp and is expected to be involved when St Mirren face Murcia on Saturday. McLeish revealed that Mallan had already impressed during a spell training with the club’s under-19s.

“He came in and did pre-season with our under-19s last year,” McLeish said. “He came off the back of an injury then. He had a decent season last season at St Johnstone. He has found himself without a club and we have said he can come in and train with us. He did that well in the first week that we said we need to take a look at this. We got him a place on the trip here, along with Dylan Reid.”

Reid, another graduate of the St Mirren academy, is also on trial, alongside Middlesbrough winger Micah Hamilton. McLeish said Hamilton had felt something during Wednesday’s session and missed the Hearts match, but hoped to have him assessed on Saturday. Another unnamed trialist was injured in a second session and will not be able to continue with the club.

Mandron departs for lucrative move abroad

Premier Sports Cup hero Mikael Mandron has decided against signing a new contract and is set to move to a club overseas. McLeish said the striker’s decision was ultimately a financial one taken with his family in mind, despite his affection for St Mirren.

“Mika has different options in different countries. I have spoken to him,” McLeish said. “He loved his time here and we love him here. He wishes he could stay but it is a financial decision that he has to make for himself and his family. You need to respect that as well. He has been a great servant for us as well. He is one we would have loved to have kept. We made an offer to him, we just couldn’t get anywhere near the offers he has already got.”

Fellow striker Jonah Ayunga, also out of contract, is set to be offered fresh terms as he continues his recovery from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament suffered in April. The Kenyan international is expected to be fit around the turn of the year.

“It is not finalised yet,” McLeish said. “We are trying to get a contract sorted. We want to look after him and get him through his injury and rehab. That should feel like a January signing for us. Jonah should come back into the fold at that time.”

McLeish pleased with camp as squad rebuild continues

McLeish also confirmed he is looking to add further reinforcements after selling Miguel Freckleton to LASK, revealing he has already held talks with former Rangers defender Leon King.

St Mirren have been based at the Pinatar Arena near Alicante throughout the week, with McLeish satisfied with the facilities on offer and the progress made in integrating new arrivals into the squad. “The amount of time we spend here at the facility is great for all the boys and it is also important when it comes to integrating the new boys,” he said. “The facilities we have got access to here have been first-class and it has been a really positive week for us.”