Social media criticism of St Mirren keeper Ryan Mullen is ‘faceless accounts’, says boss

St Mirren interim manager Craig McLeish has stressed that social media criticism of Ryan Mullen is not “real life”.

The goalkeeper suffered a torn thigh in the opening minute of St Mirren’s Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Celtic as Daizen Maeda charged down his clearance to net.

The former Celtic youth player struggled on before going off in the 15th minute but his commitment and integrity were called into question on social media before the extent of his injury was revealed.

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McLeish said: “We are all in this line of business and we know that goes on, and you have to take the rough with the smooth.

“It shouldn’t happen and it’s not nice that it happens to anyone, but I think we are all in a place where it’s not real life. It’s faceless accounts.

“Some of it might come from fans of our own club, fans of other clubs, but those same people aren’t making those same comments if they are seeing you face to face. Those things don’t happen.

“Nobody should have to read that about themselves but you have to remember that social media is not the nicest of places.

“Ryan’s family, the support he has had from his team-mates, the club, people he sees in daily life, he knows he has got that support from us. That’s the bit that matters.

“You have to put social media to the side but also not dismiss it and think any of that is acceptable.”

Captain Alex Gogic had hit out at “disgraceful” social media messages and expressed his disappointment that many had come from Saints fans.

Speaking ahead of the resumption of their William Hill Premiership survival battle against Livingston on Saturday, McLeish said: “That’s what gives me confidence going into this situation, that we have a group who are fighting for each other and will back each other when the chips are down and not look to blame each other. We have a really good culture within the group.”

With Mullen facing surgery and Shamal George missing with an ankle injury, 17-year-old Grant Tamosevicius made his debut off the bench in the 6-2 defeat at Hampden, while Saints brought in St Johnstone goalkeeper Ross Sinclair on an emergency loan on Thursday.

McLeish said: “We are really comfortable with the goalkeeping situation now. Bringing Ross in is a massive help. He has Premiership experience, he is a strong goalkeeper.

“Grant went in against Celtic, thrown into a really tough situation, and equipped himself really well.

“He will still be disappointed with a couple of the goals in extra time. Although he’s young, he holds himself to really high standards. It was actually nice to see all the support he got from it but also little bits of him going ‘I could have done better at times’. And we hold him to those high standards as well.

“Whatever decision we go with in the next couple of games, we are comfortable with either Grant or Ross in goal.

“We should see Shamal before the end of the season. He is out of the boot now so it’s more just about how much weight he can put through it and how quickly that progresses.”