Dundee and St Mirren are relying on young talent as they push to maintain their Premiership status with just weeks left in the season.

Dundee manager Steven Pressley highlighted the importance of loan players Cam Congreve, Tony Yogane, and Yan Dhanda in the club's survival bid. The trio, on loan from Swansea, Brentford, and Hearts respectively, have all made positive impacts since joining Dens Park. However, Pressley expressed doubt over securing their services beyond this campaign, noting that parent clubs tend to recall or find new arrangements for promising players after successful loan spells. “If they do well, their clubs look to step them up next season, either with themselves or elsewhere,” Pressley said. He singled out the wide players’ performances as particularly strong, making it challenging for Dundee to keep them. Dhanda has also impressed, adding to the difficulty of retaining the group.

Dundee’s recent 2-0 victory over St Mirren has put them in a favorable position, with a key home fixture against Livingston on Saturday potentially providing a further boost in their fight to avoid relegation.

Meanwhile, St Mirren interim manager Craig McLeish is turning to the club’s academy prospects to bolster the Saints’ survival efforts. After naming five academy players among the nine substitutes during Saturday’s loss to Dundee, McLeish indicated that additional youngsters, including left-back Thomas Falconer and 16-year-old Luke Douglas, could soon be integrated into the senior squad. However, the interim boss emphasized the need to introduce them carefully given the high-pressure circumstances. “I’m desperate to try to get them on the pitch at times, if we can. It’s picking the right time,” he said.

McLeish also highlighted the club’s ongoing goalkeeper injury crisis, where 17-year-old Grant Tamosevicius is serving as backup to emergency loan signing Ross Sinclair. While many academy players are on loan elsewhere, McLeish mentioned younger squad members who could be options once available. Reflecting on player welfare, he praised the resilience of one individual recently returning from a serious injury, who initially showed nervousness but has since regained confidence. “As long as we know he’s safe, healthy, and in a good place to regain his place on the training field, we’ve got to treat him like everybody else – because that’s what he wants,” McLeish added.

Both clubs are therefore placing significant reliance on youth prospects amid challenging circumstances as they battle to secure their Premiership futures in the closing stages of the season.