MacPherson is worried St Mirren will get a disproportionate number of rookie referees this season

Manager Gus MacPherson has no objection to inexperienced match officials taking charge of St Mirren games, but wants the process to be a fair one.

"The referees that need experience are going to be given games involving clubs in the bottom six," said MacPherson.

"The comment has been made that managers only give players experience in lesser games, but that's not true.

"We will give a young player that opportunity when they have earned the right to play."

Following Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to St Johnstone, MacPherson pointed out that three of his club's opening four league matches had been overseen by callow referees.

And he wants equal treatment for all teams in the Scottish Premier League when it comes to the allocation of match officials.

"Stephen McGinn made his debut at Celtic Park in front of 60,000 supporters," MacPherson added to illustrate his point. "He had earned the right and an opportunity arose in his position.

"It should be the same for referees."

Meanwhile, St Mirren goalkeeper Chris Smith could be back in full training as early as the beginning of next month after making a remarkable recovery from cruciate ligament surgery.

The 23-year-old was ruled out for up to a year when his knee injury first came to light at the end of March.

"I'm really happy about the news; when the surgeon told me I could go ahead with things, I could have flown home from London under my own steam," Smith told the club website.

"Over the next couple of days, I'll be working on goalkeeping stuff like jumping and diving then hopefully in a couple of weeks I'll be back to full training with the rest of the squad.

"I'm just looking forward now to getting back in with all the boys again - it'll get my shoulders back up again to be back in among the rest of the players.

"It has been a quick six months but, in other ways, it has been a long wait but I'm really looking forward to getting back into things again."

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