If evidence of the efficacy of a club’s youth development lies in the production of players for the national teams, then St Mirren are a club that are definitely on the right track.

Two of the starting line-up in Scotland under 21s’ impressive win over The Netherlands in Paisley recently came through the youth set-up at the same stadium, and they were perhaps their country’s best performers on the night.

Former Saint Stevie Mallan controlled the midfield and bagged the second goal in the 2-0 victory, while current Buddie Lewis Morgan dazzled on the left wing, much to the delight of the home support.

Not that St Mirren manager Jack Ross needed any further evidence of how his club’s player development is functioning, he need only glance at his teamsheet for irrefutable proof.

“You only have to look at the likes of Lewis Morgan and Kyle Magennis - and Kyle McAllister before them - in order to realise that we must be doing something right at St Mirren in terms of developing our own players,” Ross said.

“They are all really good, accomplished young players.

“Lewis has been great for us and there is no doubt that he will be a real asset this season.

“I was very strong with the board in my views over how important it was to what we are trying to do at the club this term to keep him here.

“Obviously he is out of contract at the end of the season, but with what he is contributing in the short-term, it was important that we kept him here.

“Seeing him do so well for Scotland under-21s is a big feather in the cap of the club, as it is to see Stevie Mallan doing so well on the night too having been developed here before getting himself a great move.

“It is great for any prospective young players out there to see that this club will give young talent a chance. We have no qualms about throwing them in. If they are good enough, they are old enough.”

Ross isn’t panicking over last weekend’s setback for his side with the heavy defeat at the hands of Dunfermline, but he has reminded his players this week where there is room for improvement.

“There is obviously a level of consistency from me about the place and in our approach, and by and large it has been working so we won’t change too much,” he said.

“But there are one or two things from the last couple of games actually that I feel we could do a lot better, and that has to be addressed.

“The players are aware of that though, and we will be working hard to put that right for the game on Sunday.

“We feel we have set a standard and we don’t want to fall below that, and we won’t be able to fall below that standard if we are to achieve what we have set out to this season.

“We now have important games coming up and I will be looking for that improvement and a good reaction from the players.”

Ross is looking forward to getting the home support behind them this weekend as his men take on Queen of the South, with another home fixture to follow against Brechin presenting a chance to get back on track.

“The fans have been magnificent both home and away this season, but I have spoken before about making our own stadium a really difficult place to come, and there is no doubt they have contributed hugely to that with their backing,” he said.

“There will be bumps along the way this season, of course there will, and I’m sure the fans understand that too.

“I have no doubts that they will be out in force again in the next two games and we want to reward their support with the type of committed performance we ourselves demand from the players, and ideally, two victories.”