Stephen Robinson has urged Caolan Boyd-Munce to "prove himself" after the Northern Ireland Under midfielder agreed a short-term deal with St Mirren.
Boyd-Munce has joined the Scottish Premiership outfit until the end of the season.
The 23-year-old was a free agent after leaving Middlesbrough in January but is now heading to St Mirren Park where he will link up with former Northern Ireland international Robinson.
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He said: "It's a short-term contract for Caolan to prove himself.
"Caolan is a young international that I worked with previously as a young boy. He's technically very good.
"He's playing catch up fitness-wise, but he has a great attitude and is someone that we feel if we can develop there may be something longer term for him.
"We're trying to fill the gap that we've had since Ethan [Erhahon] left. He's a similar type player to Ethan who I think we have missed."
Boyd-Munce spent a year at Middlesbrough after leaving Birmingham City in January last year. He joined Birmingham from Glentoran in the summer of 2016.
St Mirren have an option to extend the player's deal beyond the end of the season.
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