St Mirren goalkeeper Craig Samson admits he’s PLEASED that team-mate Kenny McLean is crocked ... because it might extend the talented midfielder’s stay in Paisley.
Samson is a huge fan of McLean and has tipped the 20-year-old starlet to win a big-money move to an English club, with the likes of Wolves and Ipswich Town said to be interested.
However, the shot-stopper is also eager to see McLean stay with the Buddies for as long as possible and reckons the knee injury which forced the Scotland Under-21 star to go under the knife last week could work in St Mirren’s favour.
Samson told Express Sports: “The manager had said that he expects to lose Kenny but, unfortunately for him, he’s had to have an operation the other day, which also happened to him last year.
“There was a real chance that he might have been away last January but he hurt his shoulder and now he has done his knee in.
“It’s unfortunate for Kenny because, to be honest, he deserves a chance to go on to higher things and prove himself because he’s a fantastic player.
“If he doesn’t get a move just now, I think he certainly will some time soon, whether it be the summer or next January, because he is a big talent.
“If the injury means that clubs don’t come in for Kenny this month, then that is all the better for us.”
McLean isn’t the only St Mirren star whose future is far from certain.
Although the Buddies can expect to coin in a bumper transfer fee for the young midfielder, who is under contract until the summer of 2014, Samson’s current deal runs out at the end of this season.
And the former Kilmarnock man admits he has no idea what the summer will bring.
Samson, who was also on the books at Ayr United before joining St Mirren, is among 10 first team stars whose contracts at the Paisley club are due to expire at the end of the 2012/13 campaign.
He has also been tipped for a move to England and is now free to talk to clubs south of the border.
But Samson admits he has no idea if Buddies boss Danny Lennon plans to offer him a new deal to stay in Paisley.
He said: “It’s down to the manager to sort out who he wants to keep and when he starts talking to them.
“He’s not spoken to me or a few of the other boys but, since I’ve been here, the club has always tended to wait a bit longer before offering new contracts.
“There are a lot of players who will be out of contract but everybody is in the same boat at most clubs.”
