St Mirren manager Craig McLeish has expressed confidence in midfielder Killian Phillips’ future, committing to securing the best possible transfer opportunity for the Republic of Ireland international. Phillips continued his strong form by scoring the decisive penalty in St Mirren’s 1-0 victory over St Johnstone on Saturday at Paisley, helping the Saints maintain their position at the top of the Scottish Championship.
Phillips, who is in the final year of his contract, had earlier opened the season with a brace against Falkirk. His latest goal came in the 73rd minute after St Johnstone goalkeeper Toby Steward fouled midfielder Samuel Ramos inside the box. Steward, preparing to intercept a pass from Declan John, was unaware of Ramos’ movement and brought him down, resulting in the penalty which Phillips converted.
St Mirren goalkeeper Jacob Chapman was also instrumental in the win, notably saving a penalty attempt from Jamie Gullan shortly after halftime. The save helped preserve the narrow lead and secured all three points for McLeish’s side.
McLeish, who took over as interim manager last season before earning the permanent role, praised Phillips’ contributions and highlighted the player’s career trajectory. “I want Killa to do well. He’s at the stage right now where he’s around the 100-game mark for the club,” McLeish said. “He’ll be looking for the next step in his career. If he attracts interest, then great – we’re doing our job. I’m doing my job.”
The manager added that the timing of any potential transfer was flexible. “The longer Killa stays and plays with me and with us, I’ll get him the best move he possibly can. If that’s this window, then fine. If it’s in January, if we get him to the end of the season, it’s part of it and we have to be prepared for any outcome.”
Phillips had recently been linked with a move to Major League Soccer, underscoring his rising profile. For now, McLeish and St Mirren are focused on retaining their strong start to the campaign, with the manager emphasizing that consistent performances will naturally lead to opportunities for the midfielder. “We’re just delighted to have him as part of our group. And if he keeps playing like that, his future takes care of itself.”
The match itself was tightly contested, with few clear chances in the first half. The closest came when Ramos headed Chris Mochrie’s cross on goal, only for Steward to make a crucial save and help St Johnstone survive a goalmouth scramble. However, it was St Mirren’s composure in front of goal and their goalkeeper’s penalty save that ultimately defined the fixture.