St Mirren fend off interest from English clubs to secure top prospect Kieran Offord's future

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Youngster Kieran Offord wants to secure a place in St Mirren's starting XI after putting pen to paper on a two-year contract extension.The talented striker, who turned 18 yesterday, featured earlier in the season against Celtic and Rangers when the Buddies were short in numbers after a coronavirus outbreak.Aside from those impressive performances against the Old Firm, Offord has been in fine form for Lowland League side East Stirlingshire where he's bagged nine goals in just 12 appearances.The Saints Academy graduate has also made his debut for Scotland's Under-19 side, and now he's hoping to impress Saints boss Stephen Robinson enough to force his way into his first team plans for next season.

Offord told stmirren.com: "I feel like I'm ready now for the challenge to push on."I was involved in the games against Celtic and Rangers before Christmas and I've been out on loan as well.

I've been working hard to try and get to the level I want and that's the Premiership."The loan has been very beneficial. I've been playing against men week in, week out and I've been scoring goals.

It's helped prepare for training with the first team and hopefully it can help me playing with the first team."I've been training with the first team a lot more and there has been more opportunity for me.