Toyosi Olusanya admits "time" was key factor as he takes St Mirren second chance

KYLE GUNN

Toyosi Olusanya has opened up on his second season at St Mirren after finding his feet in Paisley.

The 26-year-old striker spent the second half of last season on loan at Arbroath but endured a frustrating spell with the Championship outfit.

But this campaign has brought about a change in fortunes with Olusanya having netted six times and now feeling a big part of a Buddies group which has set its sights on reaching Europe.

And the Londoner is happy with how things have worked out under boss Stephen Robinson who believed he had a chance of making it.

He said: “From a manager’s point of view, I feel like it’s not easy when they come into a new team and have new players.

“I feel like it does take time for them to settle in and then know the players they have, the resources they have then obviously implement that on the side of the team.

“But then also for players, too, I feel like going on loan to Arbroath then coming back – it wasn’t a great loan. I feel like, as players, sometimes you need time.

"So, it’s only like my second season that I’ve really started to settle in and everyone can see the type of player I am.

“If I had just stayed a year and then maybe left for the summer, people wouldn’t have been able to maybe see that side of me. I feel like time is very crucial.

“Some players hit the ground running straight away which is obviously what I intended to do. But I feel like I’ve always been a bit of a late bloomer.”

Whilst Olusanya didn’t get off to the best of starts at the SMISA Stadium, after joining the club from Middlesbrough in 2022, he is grateful to gaffer Robinson for keeping the faith.

The forward has a reputation for being one of the nicest people in football, according to his manager, but once he crosses that white line, Olusanya insists he is fully committed to the cause. He said: “I’m very grateful. Even before I went on loan, he was always giving me coaching points, advising me and telling me what to do.

“But I feel like I maybe didn’t take the information on board that I needed at the time.

“After the loan and when I came back, I had a chat with the gaffer. He said the type of player you are, you can play at this level or higher or play below. It’s just based on where you want to go. I took things on board and that has helped me.

“All around, I’m friends with everyone but on the pitch there are no friends. I think it’s shown this season and I’ve got stuck in from time to time.

“As soon as the final whistle blows, all is well but on the pitch you want to win – so everyone is treated the same out there whether they’re friends or not.”

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