St. Mirren’s Killian Phillips is embracing being deployed as a striker after scoring his side’s only goal in a 1-1 draw away to Partick Thistle in the first leg of the Scottish Premiership relegation playoff.

The Irish international, who normally plays in centre midfield, has scored two in his last two appearances, which has seen him used as an attacker in both.

And the 24-year-old joked that he has began transitioning from one Irish Keane to another.

“It’s the business end of the season where anything goes, and look if it’s going to help the team I’ll play anywhere” Phillips said on the decision to play him up front.

“It’s probably something that he [Craig McLeish] noticed in training. I don’t mind, I grew up playing football on the roads, so I think I can play anywhere on the pitch, and I think I’ve shown that.

“I thought I was a bit of a Roy Keane, but now I’m turning into Robbie a little bit! My celebration isn’t as good!”

Phillips scored the opener in the first half with a composed outside of the boot finish, but it would be cancelled out by an Aidan Fitzpatrick tap-in on the hour mark. The former Crystal Palace man however did not underestimate the challenge of the side in the division below.

“They’re a very good side, they’re unbeaten at home, so we know how much of a fortress this is for them.

“It’s level again, coming into our gaff, and I’m sure they’ll [St. Mirren fans] will be bouncing.

“I think both sets of fans were unbelievable, it was rocking. They have a great set of fans here and it was bouncing, and I’m sure the SMISA will be bouncing next week.

“I think we need to start well, I think that’s very important. We need to probably control the game a little bit more at times as well.

“They’ll have spells where they’re on top and I think we need to nullify that. Tonight we probably didn’t do that as well as we’ve done through the season.”

St. Mirren host Partick Thistle in the return leg this Monday night as Partick Thistle aim to redeem their playoff heartache of 2023.