St Mirren have received a significant double fitness boost ahead of their Premiership trip to face Hearts at Tynecastle Park this Saturday. Striker James Wilson is expected to be available after returning from Scotland Under-21 duty with a minor knock, while defender Oisin McEntee is in contention to return to the squad after a month-long calf issue.
Head coach Wouter Vrancken confirmed Wilson's status. "He had a little knock, yeah, but that's football," Vrancken said. "You have to cope with this and you have to take care of your body." The forward is set to train fully on Friday at Riccarton before being named in the squad, having started both of Scotland's recent European Under-21 Championship qualifiers. His return is a welcome addition to the St Mirren squad as they look to improve their attacking output.
Defensive boost as McEntee nears return
In defence, Oisin McEntee has resumed full training with the first team this week after missing a closed-door friendly against Dundee. The central defender has been absent for more than a month with a calf complaint. "It’s difficult to say, of course, but he trained with the team from this week without reaction," Vrancken noted, adding that the club did not want to take risks with the player in the bounce game. His potential return offers a timely defensive option for a side that has conceded 14 goals in eight league games this season, a key area of focus as they review their defensive stats.
The visit to Edinburgh represents a tough test for St Mirren, who sit seventh in the Premiership standings with 10 points from eight matches. Their recent form shows four consecutive defeats, including a heavy 5-0 loss to Hearts earlier this month on 10 October. The team will be hoping the returning players can help reverse that trend in this key fixtures list encounter. Vrancken also provided an update on other fitness concerns, confirming that midfielder Keanu Baccus is suspended for the match, while striker Jonah Ayunga continues his rehabilitation from a long-term knee injury and is not yet ready to rejoin the group.
Read the full report at St Mirren.com
