ST MIRREN manager Jack Ross sees signs that Stevie Mallan is getting near to his best form and has backed the midfielder to be a key man as Saints look to get out of relegation trouble.

Mallan made his Saints’ first-team debut against Hamilton Accies in the Premiership in 2014 at the age of 18. He received national recognition the following month when he scored a sensational solo goal against Dundee.

The Saints academy player doesn’t turn 21 until March but has already managed 68 appearances for the Buddies. Like most of the St Mirren squad he has struggled to reach his best form this season but his manager is convinced he will have a big role to play as the Buddies battle to beat the drop.

Speaking before Saturday’s game with Dunfermline, he said: “He’s recently looked more like the player that I knew he was and I had seen in previous times, the player that had created so much attention around himself.

“That comes with a realisation and a belief. We get across to him all the time how much we believe in him. Certainly his performances in the past couple of weeks have been really encouraging.

“I think he recognises that he is in a place where he can start doing that week in week out and start to be that influential player for us.

“If he does that then undoubtedly he’ll be a terrific player in this league.”

Ross was non-committal when asked if Tom Walsh and Ryan Hardie would return to Rangers when their loan spells in Paisley finish in January.

He said: “It’s a continual assessment of where we are at. Although we have started to plan there are still five or six weeks to go before January.

“We have ongoing dialogue with parent clubs. I speak to them at least once a week.”

"We will have a conversation with the players individually because if they are not getting as much game time as they would like, it is a two-way conversation.”