St Mirren have followed up their major January turnaround by signing defender Jack Baird on an extended contract.

The 22-year-old centre-back has signed a two-year extension which takes him to May 2021.

Baird, who has made 144 appearances, said: "I'm really happy here and when I was asked about extending my deal it was an easy decision for me.

"I've had some brilliant memories here and I feel I have improved a lot since I first came through.

"I've got a great relationship with the fans and they are always behind me."

Manager Oran Kearney added: "Jack has nearly 150 appearances behind him and he's still at a tender age to be fair.

"His best years are still to come. There's a huge amount of football in him and he has done really well to date.

"He's only going to get better with age so I think it's important that we tie players like that down."

Kearney took his January incomings to 10 with the loan signings of Romanian full-back Laurentiu Corbu and Haiti striker Dukens Nazon on deadline day.

And Baird is confident the new-look Saints can push up from the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership, as they did in the Championship following a similar winter turnaround.

"You kind of get used to it," he said. "We have had a few windows like that. Two years ago there was a 10-in-10-out window and you get used to it. We have had a few hectic Januarys so I am not fazed by it.

"Some of the players have come in and started really well, the new goalie (Vaclav Hladky) and the new guy playing centre-half (Mihai Popescu) is a good player as well. His English is good, it's probably better than mine to be honest!

"It takes a few months to get used to things but once that's done we should be good to go.

"It depends on the players themselves. Some come in and hit the ground running, some need a few weeks because it can be difficult. A few lads from different countries will be living in hotels for a few weeks rather than living at home. But it will get going as time goes on. "