What Hibs boss Jack Ross has said about target Kyle Magennis - and the main quality he would bring to the team

The Easter Road side are keen to add the 22-year-old to thier midfield

It emerged on Monday evening, via a statement from St Mirren, that the Buddies had turned down a “substantial” bid from Hibs for midfielder Kyle Magennis.

Jack Ross is keen to bolster his midfield options having previously missed out on Ross McCorie to Aberdeen.

With a little under a week left of the transfer window, the Easter Road side face a race against to add to their squad, with reported interest in Motherwell dynamo Allan Campbell.

Jack Ross is a big fan of St Mirren midfielder Kyle Magennis. Picture: SNS

An offer for St Mirren’s Magennis is not entirely surprising, the player having excelled under Ross while he was manager of the Paisley outfit, leading them into the Premiership, while he was linked with a move to Sunderland during his former boss’ tenure at the Stadium of Light.

In November last year, ahead of the January transfer window, Buddies boss Jim Goodwin issued a hands-off warning over any potential deal, taking the player to Easter Road.

Midfield drive

But why exactly is Ross keen on Magennis?

The midfielder broke through into the St Mirren team under the Hibs boss having just turned 18.

Speaking back when St Mirren manager, he highlighted the qualities which the 22-year-old would bring to the Hibs midfield.

“He’s a really, really good player," Ross said on the back of the player signing a new contract. “The way he drives with the ball from midfield is one of his biggest assets. A lot of young midfielders pass, they don’t drive with the ball.

“I think the fact that he has chosen to commit himself here is a reflection of how he feels about the club, considering where we are at the moment.

“He is a player that with his attitude and approach to the game will get better and I’m really excited about him.”

Magennis has been a big miss for St Mirren so far this season, the player is still recovering from a cruciate ligament rupture suffered back in January.

He has played more than 100 times for the Buddies since making his debut in 2016.