Ollie Younger insists he is ready to step up to men’s football.
The 20-year-old defender has joined St Pat’s on loan from Burnley, where he plays for their Under-23s.
Younger, with the Clarets since he was seven, said: “I jumped at the chance to come here.
“A lot of guys I’ve played against in England have come through this league, so I know it’s a good standard.
“I need to play senior football. It’s a big deal to move away but it’s also a big opportunity - I’ll grow up a lot.”
Stephen O'Donnell will lead the Saints in his first full season as manager, with their campaign getting underway against Waterford tomorrow.
Alan Mathews was also added to the management team, which includes Patrick Cregg as a Pro Licence holder.
He told Mirror Sport: “I’m at training every day.
“And I’ve been involved in bringing in a significant amount of players into the club with Stephen.
“Stephen is the head coach and I’m there to support and provide any form of assistance around the players and the team.
“That could be on the training ground, helping players into the club, dealing with agents, anything.
“It’s something we had to do to facilitate licensing but I’ve been at the club and on the board. This is more of a traditional role and I’m delighted.
“I had a couple of tentative enquiries elsewhere to see if I wanted to get back in the last couple of years, but they weren’t for me.
“Now I’m with a club that is trying to challenge at the right end and to get infrastructure and pathways in place for young players.”
