St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson admits missing out on Toyosi Olusanya but targets midfield signing

St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson has revealed he tried to sign Toyosi Olusanya before the forward’s move to Aberdeen, but still hopes to be able to make another addition to his squad this month.

Robinson is looking to strengthen his squad to help see off the threat of relegation, and to cover for a number of injuries that have hit key players.

He says he will have to “wheel and deal” in order to free up money for a midfield addition, but is still hopeful he can make a signing before the end of the transfer window.

The Paisley club have already signed forwards Jake Young and Kion Etete to bolster the front line and, a day after former St Mirren favourite Olusanya signed for Aberdeen, Robinson admitted he had tried to bring the player back.

“I tried to get him back here,” the manager said. “Unfortunately we didn’t have the funds.

“Obviously I wish Toyosi well because he’s a super boy, a great kid.

“It wasn’t for the lack of trying.”

Robinson has allowed Oisin Smyth to return to Partick Thistle on loan until the end of the season, but he is still keen to increase his midfield options, though he may have to let fringe players leave this month to free up wages.

“I’d love to [make another addition],” he said. “But I’ll probably have to create the finances myself.

“Not out my own pocket. I mean, we wouldn’t be getting anybody out of my pocket!

“But obviously a little bit of wheeling and dealing, to create the numbers, to maybe get somebody else in, you would like to do that.

“Keanu (Baccus) and Mark (O’Hara) are probably three to four weeks away minimum (from fitness).

“So a really important period so yeah, of course, I want to strengthen every area of the pitch.

“I’d like to get Alex Gogic back into the centre of defence again at some stage as well, but needs must at the minute but we’re on the look out of course.

“As I say, we’ll have to generate that ourselves.

“We’ve bought two strikers in so the board have backed us, which is great and we need to find a way to either move people out or people that aren’t happy not playing football, then create that yourself.”

The manager also reflected on the signings of two strikers when the team has struggled in front of goal this season. Young has already had a taste of action after coming off the bench against Livingston in midweek, while Etete mgith make his debut against Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday.

“Obviously we’ve been searching for strikers for a wee while now.

“With Jonah (Ayunga) missing, I think it’s really affected us in terms of having an outlet upfront in terms of people that run behind.

“Both boys give us that, especially Jake.

“It’s more numbers as well than we’re looking for changes.

“I thought Jake made a really good impact when he came on on Tuesday night so that’s what it is.

“It’s options, it’s numbers in the squad and boys that have been playing so they don’t need three and four months to get up to speed.

“They’ve been playing regularly in League One and have scored goals.

“So that’s something we rarely get and it’s obviously a real positive for us.

“He (Etete) is certainly in the squad.

“He’s only had one day’s training, this will be a second day’s training so we’ll have a look at him this morning but certainly, both boys will be in the squad.”