JASON HOLT has hailed Ali McCann as “undroppable” following his stunning breakthrough season for St Johnstone.
The Northern Ireland youngster, 20, burst on to the scene at McDiarmid Park this campaign, following a loan stint at Stranraer, and has been widely tipped to be in the running for the young player of the year award in Scotland.
Departing Saints boss Tommy Wright is adamant McCann should be in the running for the main player of the year award and midfield partner Holt is in full agreement.
Speaking to Herald and Times Sport, he said: “I’m a big fan of Ali McCann. I think he has done exceptionally well this season and I’ve been really impressed.
“Since I went in he was definitely one of the players that I was really impressed with especially at such a young age.
“He got his place in the team at the start of the season, and to keep it, it is testament to himself and the performances he has been putting in. He has been undroppable.
“He’s definitely got the potential to go on to bigger things. He has a great head on his shoulders and he is very down to earth.
“I know he won’t let any praise that comes his way go to his head or that, he is a very down to earth lad and as long as he keeps working hard and his performances stay consistent he has every chance of going all the way.”
Holt, who is currently on-loan in Perth from Rangers, is out of contract at Ibrox later this summer.
And with the shock news at the weekend that Saints manager Wright has left his position, it remains to be seen whether Holt can strike a permanent deal at McDiarmid Park.
Holt added: “I would love to go back to St Johnstone, they are a great club and I have really enjoyed my time there. I got on really well with the staff and the players, which is really important when you go to a new club. It was really easy for me to integrate.
“As soon as I went in I got on really well with the lads. They are a really good bunch.
“When I went they hadn’t had a great start to pre-season and the league cup campaign. It was obviously a difficult start, but I knew looking at the squad that it was strong and didn’t reflect where we were in the table.
“It has been quite a turnaround for the team. We always knew that we could turn it around at some point.
“Even the games that we were weren’t winning, the performances were there, but ultimately it’s about picking up results.
“As soon as we got the first couple of results, we knew the confidence would pick back up and we would get on a wee roll ourselves and that is how it has turned out.
“If we were to finish in the top six, then it is a great achievement considering where we were three or four months ago.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here