KYLE Magennis turned 21 on Monday and looking back on his career so far he admits his rise from the St Mirren academy has been “crazy”, writes Kyle Gunn

The Saints midfielder has been given the captain’s armband in the absence of Stephen McGinn due to injury; something he says young players can only dream of doing.

And Magennis harbours hopes of following in the footsteps of former Paisley graduates John McGinn and Kenny McLean of playing in the English Premiership in the future.

He said: “It’s been crazy. Two or three years ago I never expected to be in the Scotland under-21 team or playing regular first team football with St Mirren.

"It’s been mental but a brilliant experience at that and hopefully I can just keep going and keep improving. It’s a lot of boys’ dreams to be doing stuff like that. I can only be proud of myself and thank my family for everything that they have done for me, and thank all the coaches who have got to where I am just now.

“It’s always the ambition to move down south and make as much money as I can for my family because they are ones who have got me here in the first place.

"To do that would just be absolutely brilliant. Stephen and Paul are in our team so to see their brother doing so well is absolutely brilliant.”

Magennis reckons the Buddies will show more attacking intent when they face Livingston this afternoon.

And he’s hoping for a repeat of last season’s victory which marked his return from a long term injury lay off and kickstarted Saints survival mission.

He continued: “I think we have had the toughest first three games, out of everyone in the league.

"It’s been a case of sitting back, defending and hitting them on the counter. I think we have done that brilliantly, even though we have been beaten in two of those games.

"Hopefully today we can go and show a more attacking side and I think we are capable of that."

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