Toyosi Olusanya says St Mirren contract talks can wait with focus on top-six bid

Toyosi Olusanya is putting his future plans on hold to focus on helping St Mirren into a top-half finish in the Premiership.

The 27-year-old attacker, who signed from Middlesbrough in 2022, is out of contract in the summer and he says there have not been any discussions about a new one yet.

Olusanya has netted 11 times in 31 appearances this season and his pace and power is a huge asset for Stephen Robinson’s side but ahead of Sunday’s visit of Hibernian, he said: “I’ve not had any chats yet about a contract.

“I’ve spoken to the gaffer and he knows I just want to focus on each game as it comes.

“I feel that with contract talks, it’s easy to get distracted and actually take your eye off the ball.

“You get into your contact talks, you start to not perform on a pitch.

“Performances on the pitches is paramount at the moment. So just doing that, and just focusing on each game as it comes.

“When the season ends and we see where we are as a team, and myself, and then obviously then I can start thinking deeply into it.”

St Mirren were knocked out of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup by Hearts following a penalty shoot-out on Monday night and are preparing to take on an in-form Hibs side who are unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions.

Robinson’s men, battling for a top-half finish for the third successive season, are in eighth place, one point behind sixth-placed Motherwell with eight games remaining before the split.

St Mirren have shown good form against Hibs this season, beating David Gray’s team 3-0 in Paisley on the opening day of the league campaign before they triumphed 2-1 at Easter Road in November.

Olusanya said: “Obviously everyone’s feeling disappointed (about Monday), definitely, but there was a lot of positives to take from the game, and you have to move on with football, whether it’s high or low.

“So you go on to the next game and we’re focused on Sunday.

“Every game you want to improve, regardless of a win or loss.

“We know how important the next eight games are in the league, very important for us.

“Hibs are more consistent of late. The same players, same manager, so it’s just about confidence in football.

“They’re more confident and they’re doing very well. But same players, same personal and we know how to, set up to play against them.”