McLeish on Chapman call-up, young talent & Goodwin return

Craig McLeish has been speaking to the media before St Mirren host Dundee United in the Premiership on Saturday (15:00 BST). Here are the key line from the Buddies boss: McLeish is delighted Jacob Chapman has earned a first Australia call-up for matches against Brazil - and revealed goalkeeping coach Jamie Langfield had vowed to get the 25-year-old in the Socceroos squad. "It was part of the conversation we had with him during the summer," says McLeish. "Myself and Jamie Langfield sat with him and we were both kind of trying to sell different parts of the club to him. Jamie told him, 'I will get you in the Australia squad.' Jamie's got a really good track record of developing goalkeepers and things as well. We knew Jacob coming here from the lower leagues in England, he would get more eyes on him." Chapman has saved two spot-kicks in the Premiership this season and McLeish adds: "Yeah, Alex Gogic was saying 'you're welcome' to him for giving away four penalties!" The Saints boss adds: "Even how he's been with the ball at his feet, he saves against Rangers at Ibrox and things, the penalty saves, it all adds up. That's great for him, we're delighted for him and he just needs to keep pushing on from here now. The club have three players - Henry Fieldson, Ryan Carr and Louis Jackson - in the Scotland Under-21 squad and McLeish says on giving young players a chance: "It's probably just a bias of mine because of my pathway and my journey. My whole background has been youth development. I've probably sat and moaned for years about boys not getting the opportunities that I thought they should. So I can't now sit in this chair and then be the one denying them opportunities. But the biggest bit is you can't do it just as a token gesture or just for the sake of it. They have to be ready." McLeish believes midfielder Carr could go on to be a full international: "He's only got two games left, I think, of eligibility for the 21s, and then we're saying your next bit is how far can you go and push it towards the full national squad." The manager is "proud" the young players at St Mirren after taking their first-team opportunities, adding: "We have to make sure we find the balance with the experienced players as well, but when you've got Goga at the heart of your defence to help them and see them through at times too, it helps we get a really good core of experienced players." McLeish expects a "really tough game" against United, who he believes have been "a little hard done by" in performances not reflecting results. On Jim Goodwin being back in the dugout - and back in Paisley - after a three-week medical absence, McLeish says: "I'm delighted to see that he's doing well. I think he always gets a good reception when he comes back here. He was such a big player for St Mirren and had a really strong spell as manager as well. So I hope he gets a really good reception."