Shamal George and Miguel Freckleton latest arrivals in St Mirren transfer window whirlwind
St Mirren have ramped up their transfer window business after announcing two new additions.
Former Livingston and Wycombe Wanderers keeper Shamal George and Sheffield United defender Miguel Freckleton both signed deals in Paisley on Thursday.
Freckleton has agreed a two-year deal while George is joining on a season-long loan. It now brings the club's summer recruitment drive up to 11 for this season.
Manager Stephen Robinson is delighted to be able to achieve targets he has been monitoring closely for a while.
The arrival of George means Saints will now be looking to loan out Peter Urminsky with the club actively searching for suitors to give him game time. George and Ryan Mullen will battle it out for the No 1 jersey.
'Shamal is a boy we know very well from his time at Livingston,' Robbo said. 'And we feel Ryan Mullen will be the number one goalie for the club.
'But in the right here and right now, we believe Shamal is a very good, top-six Premiership goalkeeper. I think he adds that real presence to us. He's been playing games for Wycombe. He's done a full pre-season so he's ready to go.
'He comes with that experience of going to Celtic Park and going to Ibrox and knowing how to cope with that. We've got very good keepers here and Ryan has really impressed me since he came in.
'But I've got to work in the right now and develop people in the background — and that's what we'll do with both of those boys.'
Freckleton has been on the books of the Blades since 2021 although has not made a competitive appearance for the Brammell Lane outfit.
Having come through Bristol Rovers' academy, he signed for non-league side Mangotsfield United where he went on to make 11 appearances.
The 21-year-old would then be snapped up by the Blades before being sent out on loan to Wealdstone, Yeovil Town and Chesterfield, where he won promotion to the EFL.
He spent last season on loan at Swindon Town, where he played with fellow Saints new boy Tunmise Sobowale, and Robbo added: 'Miguel is a boy that I rate really highly. He reminds me of Richard Taylor but he's played more games than Richard had at that age.
'At 22, Miguel has got 100 games under his belt. He's been brave and gone out on loan and got that experience.
'We think there's real potential there. He's super quick and a big boy. He's still learning the game so expectations have to be tempered. He hasn't done any pre-season really so it will take him a bit of time to get up to speed.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Shropshire boy turns rescue ponies into prize winners.
A schoolboy who adopted three rescue ponies has turned them into competition could not ride before he adopted his first horse, George, from the RSPCA Gonsall Farm in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, in has now gone on to add Jerry and Elvis to his team, with all three becoming prize 13-year-old says he is really proud of what his ponies have achieved. Theo said he was actually "scared" of horses, before he decided to give riding a go. After simultaneously learning to ride himself as well as training George, the pair went on to win 26 different dressage championships used money won at the British Dressage Winter Championships in 2023 to pay for Jerry's RSPCA adoption fee. He was found by the organisation during a dog rescue during the lockdown. Theo has now outgrown George and so the pair are embarking on a driving career together, a sport which sees drivers sitting on a carriage pulled by a horse, taking part in a range of events, including dressage and negotiating obstaclesThe plan is also for Theo to continue the dressage success when he is he is already competing in showing and, among a number of other competitions, Jerry will compete in the Your Horse Live Championship in Warwickshire in November. Meanwhile Elvis, who was adopted in June, has already won his first competition in the Young Stock family are yet to find out any information about where he came from. "I'm really proud of them," Theo said."Because it is quite a big change to not know how to ride, to then winning lots of things."I particularly like working with you always make them better than they were"So then you have achieved something and I like showing people that rescues can do stuff." All three horses were adopted from the RSPCA Gonsal Farm in Shrewsbury, one of the charity's two equine specialist rescue centres. Dr Mark Kennedy at the RSPCA said: "We are delighted to hear how well Jerry, George and Elvis are doing in their new home after coming a long way through the rehabilitation process with us and it is wonderful to hear about their successes too."Seeing horses who have had a bad start in life developing into fantastic companions or successful riding and competition incredibly rewarding, made even better by knowing you are helping other needy horses by freeing up spaces for them in welfare charity care." Follow BBC Shrophire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Daily Record
Elijah Just off to a flyer at Motherwell as Kiwi hopes Rangers showing can be the catalyst for World Cup dream
The summer signing has made an impressive start to life with the Steelmen Elijah Just wants to shine at Motherwell this season - and cement his place in New Zealand's World Cup squad. The 25-year-old midfielder got off to a good start at Fir Park on Saturday with an excellent display in their 1-1 draw with Rangers. Just was signed by new Well boss Jens Berthel Askou this summer from Danish outfit Horsens. And he's convinced a move to the Scottish Premiership can increase his chances of going to the USA, Mexico and Canada next summer. Just scored the Kiwis' first AND last goals in their successful World Cup qualifying campaign. He's got stiff competition in New Zealand's midfield, with the likes of NAC Breda's Matthew Garbett, Nottingham Fores t's Marko Stamenic and St Etienne's Ben Old in the mix for a starting slot. But Just hopes his performances in Lanarkshire can ensure he's part of coach Darren Bazeley's final squad. He said: 'This season is obviously really important for me personally. It's one year until the World Cup and I want to put myself in the best possible position for the national team. 'I hope I can get a good run of games, play well and we'll see what happens. 'That's a nice stat to have (qualifying goals) but the current group of players we have with New Zealand is really strong. 'There are players playing all around the world, competition is really high. 'But if I can do well in the Scottish Premiership this season, it gives me the best opportunity to play. 'The World Cup was a massive motivation for me coming here, to be in that squad. 'There are good players at really good clubs around the world but this is a massive opportunity for me at Motherwell.' Motherwell were fully deserving of their point against Rangers and will probably feel they should have won their opening day fixture. Emmanuel Longelo's late equaliser cancelled out James Tavernier's opener for the visitors - but Askou's team were on top for long spells. Just was a key part of that and he enjoyed his first Premiership experience. He praised Well's bravery on the ball as they impressed against Russell Martin's side. He said: 'When you play a team like Rangers who have a lot of quality in the first game, it's important you apply yourself the way the manager wants you to. 'We did a really good job at that. The boys were very courageous so it's a step in the right direction for us. 'It was very intense, the fans were loud. When I went to warm up, I got the feeling of - this is some proper football. 'But when the game got going, I felt good and comfortable. 'As the game went on and we didn't have the equaliser after a few chances, you start to think, OK we really need something here. 'But when the goal went in, we pushed on and had another two chances at the end so we're really happy.' Askou - just like Martin at Rangers - is asking his players to take risks in possession and play out from the back. And Just said: 'Our centre-backs are so courageous. Paul McGinn hit a fake shot in our box, it went out for a corner and Rangers scored. 'But the boys just told him to keep going because that's the way we want to play and we'll stick to it. 'We know if we play with that style, we'll create chances and be a good side.'
Scotsman
9 hours ago
- Scotsman
Hearts players won't get away with anything - Frankie Kent reveals the standards at Riccarton
SPFL Scottish Premiership season 2025/26 starts at Tynecastle against Aberdeen Sign up to our Hearts newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... 'We don't really want to talk about what happened last year because of how bad it was.' For Hearts, that is probably a wise move. Players are happier previewing the new season than reviewing the old one after finishing seventh in the William Hill Premiership. There is a new management team and a host of new players in place for 2025/26 as the Derek McInnes era gets underway. Aberdeen are the first opponents at Tynecastle Park on Monday and defender Frankie Kent is grateful for the fresh start. He spent a fair portion of last season injured and unable to help team-mates in difficulty. 'Yeah, it wasn't nice. Obviously, I came back in as the top six that was already done,' he said. 'I had a bit more of a back seat last year, personally, because of how much I missed with the injury. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I know how much it hurt the other boys as well - not quite getting into the top six, knowing that we're more than capable of doing it. We just didn't meet the standards and didn't meet the expectation last year. We want to put that right and we're excited to do that. It's just a fresh start and trying to build off probably the pre-season that we've had, the cup games that we've had, the positivity around the place, the good feeling around the place and looking to put it into the first game.' McInnes is in the process of overhauling the first team to build a more aggressive and attack-minded Hearts. New players gelled during a pre-season trip to Spain, and returned to coast through the Premier Sports Cup group phase. The Premiership will be far more competitive but new recruits like Claudio Braga, Stuart Findlay and Alexandros Kyziridis have settled quickly. 'I think nowadays it's essential for boys to try and fit in so that all the boys are getting on well with each other as much as they can,' said Kent. 'Big change, big group, but we've spent a lot of time together now. I think the week in Spain really helped with most of the new boys all there already. We've got good characters and good attitudes in the group. The boys have come in and mixed with what we've already had here, which was a good tight-knit group anyway. I think everyone's done quite well.' The squad size is now more than 30 and fitting everyone into the changing room at Riccarton can be a challenge. 'It's tight,' smiled Kent. 'It's more or less been a one-in-one-out situation because of how many boys we've got. Obviously there is the potential of new ones coming in. It's exciting, though. It's what you want. Like I said, you want new challenges. You want new boys coming in and stuff like that happening. It's just one of them you have to deal with. It's probably the first time in my career where there's been such a big turnaround of players and a big sort of influx of players, but it's good.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Kent is expected to play regularly in the most competitive squad of his time at Hearts. 'It's definitely the biggest, yeah,' he laughed. 'In some ways that's good because then there's a lot of competition. You've got to fight for your place. So training, since the day we got back, has been very high-intensity with everyone trying to impress, trying to prove themselves to be in that team and be a valued member of the squad. There's definitely a good amount of quality of players. It's exciting to see. I think you need that refresh sometimes. It's nice as players to have that competition and to have that motivation to show people that: 'Yeah, you are coming in, but I'm going to show you as well.' And vice versa.' Defenders are comfortable with how McInnes and his coaching staff want to work. 'I think we know how the manager plays. It's no secret that he likes to go man-for-man, especially high up the pitch. He just wants his team to be solid and strong all over the pitch. It's new because new managers coming in and they bring their fresh ideas and stuff. It's adapting to that and trying to get on with that as quickly as possible. I think we've done that.' New demands at Hearts for season 2025/26 in the Scottish Premiership Training tempo and intensity is something McInnes and his coaching staff emphasise every day. Players have noted the demands placed on them, designed to push them to strive for peak form. Anyone even thinking of slacking or relaxing will be identified quickly. 'In general, it's just the standards of the training and of everyone. That's a large part down to the new manager and the new coaches coming in,' said Kent. 'We are just trying to impress them and trying to be on it 100 per cent every day. Obviously, everyone wants to be in the squad, be a valued member of the squad and be in that first 11. I think that's been good to see and encouraging to see. Hopefully that can be the benchmark going forwards with the standard being set, especially in training. This manager and the coaching staff won't let you get away with anything else. So, yes, it's been good.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad At 29, Kent is a senior figure at Riccarton and enjoys the responsibility that comes with his experience. McInnes has touched on the subject with the Englishman but is content that the squad contains enough sensible heads to manage itself in many ways. The manager has discussions when necessary, including with Kent about his role. 'Just little bits here and there. I think, with my age and the experience and with other boys in the team as well, it touches on little things,' said the centre-back. 'I think it's a natural thing for most of us just to sort of manage a group, put your arm around some people. Some people need help with this or help with that. I think we've got good experienced players that can do that and can deal with that. I think most of us have been through mostly everything you can do in football. It's good to have that experience. But obviously, with the new boys coming over from the different countries and getting used to all that, I think we've got a really good tight-knit group and supportive group with us. So, yes, I think that's valuable to all the new boys.' The bond is bearing fruit on the pitch so far. Hearts scored 16 goals in four Premier Sports Cup ties last month and also put three past English Premier League side Sunderland. Momentum is building ahead of Aberdeen's arrival in the Capital. 'I think it's good to have that momentum going into the new league season. We know what that can bring,' acknowledged Kent. 'It's just nice that we did win those games - the result depending on that, with how everyone's going to be feeling and how the fans will react to stuff. 'So it's just on us to maintain it and try and keep that going. I think winning is nice. No-one wants to be losing so it's having that winning mentality and a winning start that we have had in these cup games. We just want to maintain that for as long as possible. Most of the new boys can all talk English, which obviously helps a lot, and they're good characters. They have good attitudes. Everyone's got their little bit of banter with all the new boys coming in and certain things. So it's good. We've got the feel-good factor now because of how the games have gone and that we have been winning, so it's important we try and maintain that.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Aberdeen would take significant glee from dousing the Gorgie flames. 'We played them enough times last season, obviously,' recalled Kent. 'The last one was the semi-final. We know how well they've done to win the Scottish Cup as well so they'll be on a high. But listen, it's on us to try and do as well as we can. I'm pretty sure everyone's pretty confident. 'It's probably better going in against a side like that than going in against a lesser team. I think it's good to test yourself early on to see where we're at. I feel like we're in a strong place. We're in a good place. We just want to take that confidence into the game and know it will be a tough game because they're a good team. And just, yeah, go in full foot.' READ MORE: Hearts team to face Aberdeen
