Frustrated Stephen Robinson admits St Mirren crock Conor McMenamin can’t wait to get back to work.
But he insists the luckless wideman’s injury troubles have nothing to do with his switch to full-time football. The 29-year-old made the move to Paisley from League of Ireland part-timers Glentoran in the summer of 2023. But he’s managed less than 40 appearances in the 18 months since after repeated set-backs with his achilles and knee. However, Robinson reckons his troubles are down to sheer bad luck than his change in status. He said: “I do think Conor’s got two freak injuries.
“When people step from part-time to full-time, it’s usually hamstrings, thighs and calves that go. These are two injuries that are very very rare. He’s been really unfortunate. Of course there is a difference in tempo and standard and intensity that you have to make that step up to. But I’m not sure the two injuries he’s had should be attributed to that to be honest.”
McManamin hasn’t kicked a ball for Saints since the 3-2 Premiership victory against St Johnstone in mid-December. And his boss confirmed: “Conor is still going to be another three to four weeks.
“We thought he was closer than what he was but he broke down again. We had him re-scanned and he’s got a tear in his calf at the top of his achilles.
“We’re probably still another three weeks minimum away from that before he’ll be available which is a big loss. It’s been very frustrating, no more frustrating than for Conor because he is a difference-maker for us.
“He’s a player who can play as wing back or a wide player and allows us to be a little bit more flexible with our system. When he’s played he’s been great, but just keeping him fit and keeping him on the pitch has been our biggest issue.
“But he’s been very unfortunate in the injuries, they’re not common injuries. It was a knee injury that required surgery and an achilles injury that initially the scan missed. So he’s been a little bit unfortunate with that as well and hopefully we get him fit soon.”