St Mirren

St Mirren have lost striker Curtis Main, who is away for a stint in the Indian Premier League.

However, key men Mark O'Hara, Ryan Strain and Keanu Baccus remain and manager Stephen Robinson will be hoping it stays that way when the summer window closes.

Connor McMenamin and Mikael Mandron start today, having been brought in to add more punch up front, along with the Stav Nahmani, who is among the replacements.

Hibernian: Marshall, Delferriere, Fish, Hanlon, Stevenson,

Doyle-Hayes, Newell, Boyle, Campbell, Youan, Doidge.

Substitutes: Miller, Levitt, Jeggo, Le Fondre, Melkersen, Obita, Boruc,

Harbottle, McAllister.

St Mirren: Hemming, Strain, Fraser, Gogic, Richard Taylor,

Tanser, Baccus, O'Hara, Kiltie, McMenamin, Mandron.

Substitutes: Bolton, Flynn, Boyd-Munce, Dunne, Nachmani, Olusanya, Greive,

Jamieson, Urminsky.

Image source, SNS

Hibs have a goalkeeping dilemma after David Marshall pulled out of their European tie against Inter d’Escaldes with a hamstring issue in the warm-up and Jojo Wollacott suffered a thigh injury early in the game.

Max Boruc could continue after coming on for his debut while 18-year-old Murray Johnson has been temporarily recalled from a loan spell with Queen of the South.

Rocky Bushiri begins a two-match domestic ban while Chris Cadden (Achilles) and Harry McKirdy (heart) are long-term absentees.

St Mirren defender Charles Dunne will be assessed after returning to training following a calf injury while recent signings Stav Nahmani and James Bolton are doubtful.

St Mirren defender Marcus Fraser says his side are “looking sharp” and ready to prove last season's success was no flash in the pan.

After coming sixth last term - their highest finish since 1985 - the Buddies travel to Easter Road to face Hibs in their Premiership opener having already qualified for the Viaplay Cup last 16.

"Before the league starts you want to get as many minutes in games as you can,” said Fraser.

"We have had a few pre-season games then the four Viaplay Cup ties so everyone is looking sharp and everything is coming together so hopefully we can take that into Sunday.

"At this stage of the week, in the build-up to the first league game of the season there is always excitement around the place.

"Everyone is fighting to get that starting place, the training is good, the tempo is high and it is really exciting for everyone and hopefully a successful season for us coming up.

"The manager (Stephen Robinson) and Diarmuid O'Carroll (assistant) have been telling the boys that we don't want to be a good team for one season, we want to add to that.

"We have been working in pre-season to add different layers to our game and hopefully we can see that in the coming weeks and bring that to the games."

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• Hibs have won each of their last three league meetings with St Mirren, and also won the last time they faced the Buddies on matchday one of a league season (1-0 in 2019-20).

• St Mirren have only won one of their last eight top-flight trips to Hibs (D3 L4), losing both of their last two since a 1-0 victory in February 2022.

• Hibs have won each of their last six Scottish Premiership season openers, last failing to win on opening day in the top flight in 2013-14 against Motherwell in a season in which they went on to be relegated.

• When playing away on matchday one of a top-flight season, St Mirren are winless in seven such matches (D2 L5) since a 2-1 triumph at Inverness in 2006-07. This winless spell includes two losses in two trips to Hibs (2-1 in 2009-10, 1-0 in 2019-20).

• St Mirren boss Steve Robinson has never won away to Hibs as a manager in the Scottish Premiership in eight previous attempts (D2 L6); it’s the joint-most he has faced a side away from home in the competition as a manager without winning (also 8 v Celtic). Robinson has also never won an opening game in the top flight home or away in his managerial career (P5 D1 L4).

Manager Stephen Robinson fears St Mirren are set to miss out on their mystery striker target after he impressed his club on his return from injury. (Daily Record)

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson wants to make fans dream, as he targets another successful league campaign.

The Paisley side finished sixth in the Scottish Premiership last season, and Robinson sees no reason why they can't replicate that achievement.

“For fans, everybody is excited for the season, everyone can dream and it is our goal to make them believe that we can achieve,” Robinson said.

“We did that last year. Can we do the same again and maybe even take it a little bit further?

“That has to be the aim and certainly we have the talent within the squad to do that.

“Obviously the ViaPlay Cup has already started and we set out to get to the next stages and we did that but obviously we feel that this is the real one, Hibs at Easter Road, a big crowd and we are really looking forward to it.

“We are really well prepared and look forward to the season getting under way.”

Robinson also provided an update on the club's transfer dealings, saying that further deals are likely after Sunday's game against Hibernian.

“In an ideal world we would like to strengthen in two areas of the pitch," Robinson added.

“Things don’t always go to plan. We had a verbal agreement with a player but he has done that well with his parent club that it is looking unlikely now. These things happen in football and you move on to the next one.

“We are looking to add to the squad, that is something that will be ongoing over the next couple of weeks.”

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has been talking to the media before his side's first game of the new league season, away to Hibs on Sunday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• Robinson wants to build on last season's top-six finish, "maybe even take it a little bit further", and "make [the fans] believe".

• Says that although the club has successfully navigated the opening stage of the Viaplay Cup, and that he is pleased by that, the league opener is "the real one".

• Is still looking to strengthen the squad in two unnamed positions, but tempered any expectation by saying any arrivals would likely be after Sunday's game.

• Stressed that there are no issues between him and goalkeeper Trevor Carson, who has left to join Dundee. Added that Zach Hemming is a "big asset" for the club, pointing to his performances in the Viaplay Cup.

• Stav Nahmani and James Bolton are doubtful due to knocks, but Charles Dunne will train on Saturday and be assessed.

Image source, SNS

Andrew Dallas and Greg Aitken have been appointed as the first dedicated Video Assistant Referees in Scotland, while the Scottish FA has also created a VAR independent review panel.

With more than 30 years of combined experience as match officials, Dallas and Aitken will step back from on-field duties to focus on officiating from Clydesdale House.

Gary Hilland, Andrew McWilliam and Graeme Leslie will also call time on their on-field duties to take up positions as the first dedicated VAR assistants in Scotland.

"Andrew and Greg have significant experience officiating at the highest level but have both shown a particular aptitude operating as VARs since its launch last year," said Allan.

"With the new season upon us it is important for us to continue to improve the VAR operation in all areas, so while their time on the pitch has come to an end, we are delighted that our match officials will continue to benefit from their vast experience."

The independent review panel will comprise former players, managers and coaches. Guided by experts on the IFAB Laws of the Game, it will meet on a regular basis to discuss and give an independent view of VAR interventions and non-interventions.

The appointment of the dedicated VAR match officials and the independent review panel are facets of "a commitment to improved transparency and efficiency, and knowledge and understanding of VAR" after several controversies following its rollout in Scotland last autumn.

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St Mirren have handed three-year contract extensions to forward Kieran Offord and midfielder Fraser Taylor before sending both out on loan.

The 20-year-old Taylor joins Ballymena United in Northern Ireland's top flight, while 19-year-old Offord will be with Edinburgh City in Scotland's League 1, both until the end of the season, although the Premiership club have the option to recall them in January.

Manager Stephen Robinson believes both academy graduates have "a long-term future at the club" but need "competitive football" at this stage of their careers.

Both will train with us on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday which is perfect for us as it means they are still in our system.

"We will revisit it again at Christmas in the hope that they will come back in either January or ahead of the new season and become regular first-team players," he told his club website.

Both players said they were delighted to be given another year to prove they have what it takes to develop into a first-team player.

St Mirren travel to Easter Road to take on Hibernian in their opening fixture of the new Scottish Premiership season.

Stephen Robinson will be looking for a positive start as his side look for another top-six finish.

Put yourslef in the manager's shoes, and tell us what your team would be here.

Mark Jardine, Misery Hunters podcast, external

Predicted Finish: 6th, though repeating last year’s relative success will be a tough ask. In reality, anything comfortably north of trouble should be acceptable.

Standout player: If he remains a St Mirren player beyond the window, marauding wing back Ryan Strain. The electrifying Aussie international should be included in the conversation about best in position in the league... at least minus the big two.

If Strain does go, new signing Conor McMenamin arrives with the pressure of a price tag and a YouTube highlights reel that makes you wonder how he has remained in his home league until the age of 27. It’ll be fun to watch either way.

Game most looking forward to: Sunday! The fitba is back.

Image source, SNS

Image source, BBC Sport

Mark Jardine, Misery Hunters podcast, external

Has that really been a whole summer? Having had just enough time to take a fortnight off, put the players through an intense Northern Irish fitness retreat, sign a couple of players and shift a couple of players - Stephen Robinson’s St Mirren are only a few days from resuming league duty and things are near unrecognisable from one year ago.

For starters, his side have managed to successfully negotiate their way out of an extremely winnable League Cup group. Last year was a toil against Arbroath and meltdown in Airdrie... This season has brought 94th-minute Toyosi Olusanya non-league glory and a comfortable time against Arbroath. Levels.

Perhaps more importantly, Robinson enters this season with the weight of top-half expectation on his shoulders as opposed to the near-identical weight of bottom-half “you’re not Jim Goodwin” pressure he was carrying into the 1st gameweek last year.

St Mirren last season were a side defined by defensive resolve and commitment to counter attacking, mostly at home. By the time the split occurred, that unlikely three points richly deserved against Celtic in October proved to be the margin required to break through into the top six. Will they have such strength this season? We’ll soon find out.

Thus far, transfer business in Paisley has predominantly focused on changing a top-flight profligacy in front of goal that has been present for longer than the Saints have been playing in Ferguslie.

Robinson a budget to work with courtesy of Eamonn Brophy and Jay Henderson sales and he opted to spend that cash on Glentoran’s international standout, Conor McMenamin. Nominally a winger, though one with an impressively consistent eye for goal at that level, McMenamin’s arrival would appear to herald an adjustment to how the Buddies will shape up this year.

The remaining situation to be resolved is that of Trevor Carson.

A regular hero between the sticks last year in a season of incredibly tight margins week on week. For whatever reason, despite a contract extension agreed before even completing the first of his initial deal, Carson has decided that he’ll now be plying his trade elsewhere. With both club and manager firm in expecting a fee for their experienced international asset, Carson remains on the payroll, but without a squad number and watching loanee Zach Hemming take the #1 jersey and deputise from afar.

For Hemming, fresh from a very tough season in the top flight last year with Kilmarnock, this represents a significant step up in expectation and a leap of faith from his new manager. That pressure is only likely to increase the longer Carson remains in the same postcode.

St Mirren will face Motherwell in the last 16 of the Viaplay Cup.

The Paisley side will have home advantage for the all-Premiership encounter.

Both clubs progressed through their sections by finishing top of their groups, with the Buddies on nine points and Well on 11.

The tie is due to be played on the weekend of 19/20 August.

Click here to view the last-16 draw in full.

Image source, SNS

Manager Stephen Robinson is content with other clubs "not realising how good a player" Ryan Strain is if it means he stays at St Mirren longer.

The 26-year-old right-back, who joined the Paisley side from Maccabi Haifa last summer, provided his third and fourth assists of the season in Saturday's Viaplay Cup win over Forfar Athletic.

Robinson confirmed that the club have received "no bids or no offers" for the Australian, who they are under no pressure to sell.

"Long may it continue," the St Mirren boss told BBC Scotland following the victory at the SMISA Stadium.

"We don't want to let him go. We don't need to sell, we're not in the [financial] position we were in last year.

"Ryan's done terrifically well. He's a very, very good footballer if he doesn't complicate the game."

Regarding incomings, Robinson added that he wants to bring in a "strong, physical striker" and "another left-back to challenge Scott [Tanser]."

St Mirren made sure of top spot in Viaplay Cup Group H with a comfortable 4-0 home victory over nearest challengers Forfar Athletic.

The Paisley side needed a win to join the League Two side on nine points and went into the game with a superior goal difference.

That advantage was stretched further with Mikael Mandron scoring twice inside the first 19 minutes. The first was a header and the second was a shot, both from close range and both set up by the impressive Ryan Strain.

Mark O'Hara converted a penalty and Alex Gogic banged in the fourth goal following a corner on the stroke of half-time.

The Buddies will be among the unseeded sides when the last 16 draw is made on Sunday.

Image source, SNS

Alasdair Lamont, BBC Scotland

Group H

Incredibly, League Two Forfar are one of only three teams with maximum points so far and anything other than a defeat in Paisley guarantees them first place.

St Mirren are three points behind with the same goal difference of plus four, so they know a win takes them above Ray McKinnon’s visitors.

If Forfar were to lose narrowly, they would still have a chance of being one of the best-placed runners-up.