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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
David Irvine

Ayunga insists St Mirren cannot afford 'pinch me' moment against SK Brann

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Jonah Ayunga has insisted St Mirren cannot afford a ‘pinch me’ moment in Bergen if they are to progress in the UEFA Conference League.

The Kenya international will be playing just his fourth match in Europe when he lines up against SK Brann.

But despite relishing the opportunity, the forward has warned he and his team-mates cannot be overawed by the occasion at a packed Brann Stadion - with a 14,000-strong crowd expected for the third qualifying round tie.

"You can't be having an out-of-body experience when you are playing, you just have to take it all in," he said.

"It's a great opportunity. The Valur games were a great experience for everyone involved and to get a win and see what it meant for me personally and the club and the fans was amazing.

"The feelgood factor around the place was amazing. If we can carry that on and get a win here then who knows where it will take us.

"Obviously, there's a lot on the game because it's the next round and we are one game away from getting into the play-offs [against FC Astana] for the group stages.

"It's a one-off game and it's all to play for.

"We are confident because we know we can be better than what we have shown."


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European football wasn't initially something Ayunga envisioned after a rocky start at St Mirren but he's already set his sights on a return next season.

He said: "When I first came here, we didn't have the greatest of starts a couple of years ago.

"But we picked up and got into the top six and the level that we got to and the players we brought in only made us better and better.

"We achieved Europe this season and we are going to push to get it again next season too."

And Ayunga shelved suggestions that a busy fixture schedule with added travel could impact the St Mirren squad.

"No, this is normal playing in England," he shrugged. "It's Saturday and Tuesday every week.

"You are probably doing more travelling in England because you go up and down the country so no one is feeling the effects at all."

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