Conor McMenamin says St Mirren’s strong start to season has helped him quickly settle in Paisley

Conor McMenamin admits it was tough initially trying to settle in Paisley away from his daughter Daisy.

But the impact the winger is having for club and country has left him certain he made the right choice to make a summer switch to Scotland.

The 28-year-old, who joined from Glentoran, has not only started every Premiership game for the Saints so far this season but impressed in them too.

That form led him to pick up a first start for Northern Ireland in Thursday night’s Euro 2024 4-2 qualifier defeat to Slovenia – with the wide man setting up his country’s opener with a wicked outside-of-the-foot cross.

McMenamin, who will hope to pick up another cap against Kazakhstan tomorrow, is delighted his move to St Mirren already appears to be paying off.

He said: “Obviously it was challenging at the start, moving away from my wee girl, but I’m really enjoying it and results on the pitch are helping.

“The team spirit is massive. On days off it’s going for a coffee or going to play golf and making sure you’re not sitting around by yourself.

“All the boys have been brilliant to me, we’re really close-knit in there and the gaffer likes that. There’s a lot of competition for places so you have to be performing well with such a good squad now.

“If you let your standards slip, somebody can come in and take your spot. Hopefully I can get a goal soon!”

Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill paid tribute to McMenamin and feels there’s still more to come from the talented winger.

He said: ”Conor had a great game. He’s a player who has come late to international football, late to professional football.

“In the summer he got his move to the Scottish Premiership and has made great strides in the space of the six to eight weeks he’s been in there. So, there’s a lot more from Conor to come.”

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Daily Record – Paisley