With another eventful Premiership campaign wrapped up, it’s time for our readers to once again pick their Paisley Daily Express St Mirren player of the year.
This time around we’ve teamed up with current boss Stephen Robinson and former Saints legend Steven Thompson to discuss the four worthy candidates vying for the award.
Once they’ve all been revealed, this weekend it will be down to you to decide who deserves to follow in Jamie McGrath’s footsteps and be named the PDE’s St Mirren player of the year.
The first candidate for the 2021/22 campaign is Saints skipper Joe Shaughnessy.
The towering centre-back has been an ever-present in the Buddies backline this season, making an impressive 42 appearances in all competitions.
As well as producing some big performances in defence, the 29-year-old has also chipped in with four goals.
That included two dramatic late levellers against Hibs, both in Paisley and at Easter Road that earned the club two precious Premiership points.
For Thompson, Shaughnessy’s leadership off the pitch when Jim Goodwin departed the club has been just as important as his contributions on the park.
Thompson said: “Joe is a vastly-experienced centre-back, there are few in his position in the league with more experience. He’s dependable, solid and a very good leader.
“When Jim left after a long spell in charge, there was always going to be a transition phase and you need people in the changing room to help with that.
“Joe played a big part in keeping the boys together and focused and you can see since the split the defence has vastly improved.
“He finished the season strongly with four clean sheets and Robinson will certainly be looking to him again next season to lead the club.”
With St Mirren again struggling to regularly find the net without a freescoring striker in their ranks, Thompson feels Shaughnessy’s goal contributions are even more important and hopes he’ll add even more next season.
Thompson said: “Joe is a tall lad and he attacks the ball very well. When you don’t have a striker that’s banging in goals, you need them from other areas and centre-halves very much come into that. Four is a decent return for a defender, but I think he can bag even more.
“At set-plays defensively as well he’s a massive asset in terms of helping with clearances.”
Stephen Robinson quickly discovered that Shaughnessy was the lynchpin of the Saints dressing room after taking over from Jim Goodwin.
He revealed the former St Johnstone and Aberdeen defender will remain a big part of the Paisley club next season, although he hopes to see him finally bag some goals under his guidance.
Robinson said: “Joe is so experienced and is such a good professional.
“It’s always difficult when you come in as a new manager and everything has been set a certain way for a long time.
“But I quickly found that Joe drives the dressing room.
“He’s the heart of the club and his leadership is very impressive.
“As part of a back three or a four he’s been excellent for me. He’s versatile and is better on the ball than some people give him credit for.
“At set plays he’s massive as well in both boxes, although he still hasn’t scored any for me so I’ve been giving him a bit of stick about that!
“He does give us that threat going forward and Joe’s a big part of our plans for next season.”
Find out who our next nominee is tomorrow, with voting opening on Saturday once all four Saints players have been revealed.
