Keanu Baccus: High demands at St Mirren will improve me as a player

Keanu Baccus has seen manager Stephen Robinson’s high demands intensify further after returning to St Mirren.

The Australia international rejoined the Buddies this month following a year at Mansfield and feels the club has progressed in his absence.

The midfielder said: “It was only a year away but it felt like longer, because obviously the club were very successful last year, and in Europe. It’s good to be back.

“I think there’s a little bit higher demand from when I was here last time, which is a great thing for us. A little bit more detail in how we want to play. And I think it’s definitely going to improve me as a player.

“When I came here the first time I was really surprised with the level of the club and the league. And when I got that phone call, it was a no-brainer to come back to improve myself and keep the club’s standards high.

“I want to play in Europe myself with the club. Every game is tough but we want to be fighting at the top end of the table for sure.”

St Mirren came within three minutes of holding Celtic at Parkhead and have drawn with Motherwell and Rangers either side of knocking Hearts out of the Premier Sports Cup.

The tough start to the campaign continues when Saints face Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday as they chase a fourth consecutive top-six finish in the William Hill Premiership.

“That’s the standards the club has set over the last couple of years,” Baccus said. “Also, the players they’ve brought in have been fantastic and adapted well to the style and the way we want to play.

“It’s good at the start of the season to play the tougher teams that will be in the top six because you can get a real gauge of where you are and test yourself against them.”

Baccus was keen to return to Scotland to be closer to his young family and is already reaping the benefits.

“I can feel that smile coming back. I play at my best when I’m enjoying it,” the 27-year-old said. “Definitely, when stuff is comfortable off the pitch it’s easy to replicate it on the pitch.”