ST MIRREN manager Jack Ross has praised the St Mirren board for refusing to sell Lewis Morgan in the summer.

Saints received two bids from English Championship side Burton Albion for the winger in June. Despite the 20-year-old entering the last year of his contract and having refused to sign an extension, St Mirren turned down the offer of around £250,000.

Ross is reaping the rewards, with Morgan showing some sparkling form for Saints, scoring two fine goals and setting up Ian McShane’s third in the 3-0 win over Dundee United on Saturday.

And the manager is confident that what Morgan can offer St Mirren on the pitch this season will outweigh the benefits of cashing in, with the Scotland under-21 international set to be a key figure in Saints’ promotion push in the Championship.

He said: “I know boards of directors and chairman don’t get a lot of public praise at times. But certainly as a manager I have to give them enormous credit for that.

“They knew my stance on it, I didn’t want to sell him because I viewed him as a big part of what we are trying to do here.

“And they could’ve done that with him being in the final year of his contract. I’m delighted they have backed me in that regard, I feel as if what he can contribute on the park and where that might take us is going to be worth it.

“Thankfully they think the same so they deserve a huge amount of credit for it."

And Ross believes Morgan's ability can take him onto bigger things than what was on offer at Burton Albion.

But he remains confident he will be a Saints player for the rest of the season, with St Mirren having boosted their coffers from the sales of Kyle McAllister to Derby County and Stevie Mallan to Barnsley this year.

He added: "He’s a special player with a big future ahead of him.

“My personal opinion was he was better than the opportunities he was getting offered in the summer, I think he believes me now in that.

“Moving forward I don’t think we are in a position where we need to sell because we have sold Kyle McAllister and Stevie Mallan.

“Will Lewis move from here at some point? Of course he will. But I think if he trusts himself here and he trusts us he’ll get a very good opportunity in the future.”