SNS GroupCraig McLeish intends to bolster his St Mirren squad further following a show of strength off the bench in an opening-day win at Falkirk.
The Paisley side got their William Hill Premiership campaign off to a flier with a 2-0 success on Saturday.
Killian Phillips scored in each half as seven of McLeish’s summer signings started.
An eighth recruit, Luke Thomas, was announced on the morning of the game.
The ex-Bristol Rovers winger debuted in the afternoon as a 76th-minute replacement for Samuel Ramos.
Liam Donnelly returned from knee surgery as a second-half substitute, while Roland Idowu’s late appearance featured an assist for the clinching second goal.
Jake Young also staked a claim to see more action with an impressive half hour.
The striker failed to play a minute of four Premier Sports Cup group games.
McLeish is delighted at how competition for places is already hotting up.
He said: “I thought Luke was bright when he came on.
“He gives us something a bit different in the final third which adds to the strength of the group.
“He’s really energetic. He also gives us a lot of experience; he’s played around 300 games in England at various levels.
“You can bring Luke on, Liam Donnelly, Roland and Jake – it’s in a healthy place.
“And you’ve got others probably disappointed not to get on the pitch.
“I understand that side of it, but we want to create that competitive environment. Luke just adds to that.
“We’ve done a lot of recruitment and it’s probably not quite finished yet. We just need to keep building on it.”
McLeish has made teasing a better level of consistency from Idowu one of his missions.
The Irish forward, 24, was an erratic performer and occasional starter for ex-boss Stephen Robinson, who left for Aberdeen in March.
Idowu kicked off his third Saints season by teeing up countryman Phillips to seal the three points.
“That’s what we know Roland can bring,” noted McLeish.
“We’ve had conversations with him; I love Roland as a player.
“I love dribblers, love those ‘one v one’ players.
“He needs to find a bit of consistency with it; we will continue to work on that. When he gives us that, it’s great.”
John McGlynn admits his rebuild is challenging as an influx of recruits learn Falkirk’s system.
Following their top-six heroics, and for the first time in his reign, a clutch of pivotal players left this summer.
Captain Brad Spencer was suspended against Saints and also misses next Sunday’s trip to Motherwell.
McGlynn said: “Brad can dictate how we play so, when he gets back, that will help a lot.
“One hundred per cent, we will get it to work.
“Getting players out of the habits they’ve got, that comes back on us.
“Because we’ve looked at them and felt, in our recruitment, that they can adapt to the way we play.”
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