FRANCISCO SANDAZA isn't the only St Johnstone striker who has been causing a bit of a stir this month.
While the Spaniard has spent the past few weeks evading the attentions of defenders and the amorous pursuit of Rangers, Stevie May has been just as conspicuous in the third division. The 19-year-old has not attracted quite as many headlines – or a pre-contract offer from Ibrox – but his performances for Alloa Athletic have been no less impressive.
If it seems a tad unfair to mention the teenager alongside his coveted team-mate, then it is only because their immediate futures had appeared inextricably linked. May was eager to remain with Alloa following a short stint on loan last month, but that decision would likely have been taken out of his hands had Sandaza been lured out of Perth and his club left short of forwards. That he has been able to extend his loan at Recreation Park until the end of the season will likely prove beneficial to a club with designs on the league title this season. It may also prove propitious to St Johnstone.
May has scored eight goals in as many appearances for Alloa, including his last-minute strike against Montrose on Saturday, the fourth consecutive match in which he has found the net. That Peterhead are the visitors to Recreation Park tomorrow night offers the chance of an intriguing personal battle with the similarly prolific Rory McAllister.
"We've started to hit some form," said May. "They [Alloa] are unbeaten in 12, I've only been there for about half of that, but they're playing some brilliant football and it's really enjoyable to play in it. I'd just been coming off the bench [at St Johnstone] and got a few starts last season, but I wanted to be playing regularly. I think I'm at the age when I need to be doing that.
"Extending my loan deal depended on how things were going at St Johnstone – if they were struggling to get players in or whatever – but everything went in favour of me staying at Alloa. I'm happy to be playing and a championship medal at the end of the season would be brilliant as well. It couldn't go much better than that, especially if I score a few to help them on the way."
Well, a new contract at St Johnstone might just top it off. May's current deal runs out at the end of the season, but while his scoring record this term should be viewed in context, the striker is showing little sign of any teenage angst. His nascent career has been handled by similarly inexperienced managers: Owen Coyle, Derek McInnes and Steve Lomas at St Johnstone, and Paul Hartley, the Alloa manager. "It's just good to be helping them out as it can't be easy being a new manager," he said.
His contribution will have been appreciated by Hartley, while his distinctive hairstyle has also afforded May a certain cult status among supporters. Alloa fans may yet don replica wigs should the striker help maintain their lead at the top of the table. "I used to get more stick than I do and nobody's said anything in any games in the third division yet," smiled May. Defenders may resort to that soon enough, though. They are running out of ways to stop him as it is.
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