Image source, SNSSt Mirren welcome back influential midfielder Killian Phillips after injury, but Samuel Ramos (hamstring), Liam Donnelly (abductor), Malik Dijksteel (hamstring), Keanu Baccus (Achilles) and Jonah Ayunga (knee) remain sidelined.
Suspended Dundee United midfielder Emmanuel Agyei will be missing for several weeks with a knee ligament injury, while winger Mehdi Merghem (knee) is also absent.
David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSJacob Chapman thought the phone call tipping him off on a first call-up for Australia was just a compatriot at St Mirren looking for a lift to training.
Instead the 25-year-old goalkeeper could be making his international debut against Brazil.
"My girlfriend rang me up and was like, 'Keanu Bacuus has been ringing you,'", he explained. "I'd just woken up. I was like, 'Why is he ringing me so early? He probably needs a lift to training or something'.
"Then he told me, 'I've just given your number to someone on the staff'. I tried not to get too excited straight away. Then I got a text asking if I was free for a quick chat.
"The staff member said, 'Look, I just want to congratulate you. You've been selected in this upcoming camp'. They told me they'd been looking at me for a while now. It was a very nice call and I'm just really looking forward to it now. I cant wait."
Playing for his country would be the fulfillment of a 20-year long ambition since he turned out as a mascot for the national side.
"I walked out with Travis Dodd," recalled. "We won. I can't remember who it was against, I was so young. My mum actually just sent me the video of it today."
Dodd would certainly have a good memory of the match since he became the first indigenous Australian to score for the Socceroos in a win over Kuwait in Sydney.
"My mum's always reminded me of conversations we had when I was really young about how much I wanted to play, and it's never changed," added Chapman.
Two penalty saves in the Premiership have caught the eye, along with his comfort with the ball at his feet.
"I feel like every goalkeeper you meet says 'I was a striker and now I'm a keeper'," laughed Chapman. "I loved it when I was, and it definitely helps now with how the gaffer (Craig McLeish) likes to play."
"I've faced probably more penalties than I should have, but I don't mind. Obviously, the last two have gone our way. A couple of clean sheets just reflects the whole team."
After Saturday's home game against Dundee United, it's off to join the Australia squad for two friendlies against five-time world champions Brazil in Townsville and Brisbane.
"It's crazy, just looking at their team, they've got some of the best players in the world," said Chapman. "It's a huge occasion.
"It would be everything I've ever worked towards. I'm just excited to get there, put my head down and work really hard."
David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSCraig McLeish has been speaking to the media before St Mirren host Dundee United in the Premiership on Saturday (15:00 BST).
Here are the key line from the Buddies boss:
McLeish is delighted Jacob Chapman has earned a first Australia call-up for matches against Brazil - and revealed goalkeeping coach Jamie Langfield had vowed to get the 25-year-old in the Socceroos squad.
"It was part of the conversation we had with him during the summer," says McLeish. "Myself and Jamie Langfield sat with him and we were both kind of trying to sell different parts of the club to him. Jamie told him, 'I will get you in the Australia squad.' Jamie's got a really good track record of developing goalkeepers and things as well. We knew Jacob coming here from the lower leagues in England, he would get more eyes on him."
Chapman has saved two spot-kicks in the Premiership this season and McLeish adds: "Yeah, Alex Gogic was saying 'you're welcome' to him for giving away four penalties!"
The Saints boss adds: "Even how he's been with the ball at his feet, he saves against Rangers at Ibrox and things, the penalty saves, it all adds up. That's great for him, we're delighted for him and he just needs to keep pushing on from here now.
The club have three players - Henry Fieldson, Ryan Carr and Louis Jackson - in the Scotland Under-21 squad and McLeish says on giving young players a chance: "It's probably just a bias of mine because of my pathway and my journey. My whole background has been youth development. I've probably sat and moaned for years about boys not getting the opportunities that I thought they should. So I can't now sit in this chair and then be the one denying them opportunities. But the biggest bit is you can't do it just as a token gesture or just for the sake of it. They have to be ready."
McLeish believes midfielder Carr could go on to be a full international: "He's only got two games left, I think, of eligibility for the 21s, and then we're saying your next bit is how far can you go and push it towards the full national squad."
The manager is "proud" the young players at St Mirren after taking their first-team opportunities, adding: "We have to make sure we find the balance with the experienced players as well, but when you've got Goga at the heart of your defence to help them and see them through at times too, it helps we get a really good core of experienced players."
McLeish expects a "really tough game" against United, who he believes have been "a little hard done by" in performances not reflecting results.
On Jim Goodwin being back in the dugout - and back in Paisley - after a three-week medical absence, McLeish says: "I'm delighted to see that he's doing well. I think he always gets a good reception when he comes back here. He was such a big player for St Mirren and had a really strong spell as manager as well. So I hope he gets a really good reception."
St Mirren have only won three of their past 23 top-flight home matches against Dundee United (D10 L10), although two of those have come in their latest five (D1 L2).
Since Dundee United's promotion back to the Premiership in 2024, their five league wins against St Mirren is their most versus any opponent.
Only Aberdeen (15) have more top-flight defeats in 2026 than St Mirren (14), who have lost their past two in the competition.
Dundee United have won just one of their past 10 league games (D4 L5), beating Kilmarnock 4-0 in August.
Jim Goodwin has taken charge of 94 Premiership games as Dundee United manager, now his most with any side in the competition, ahead of St Mirren (93). Goodwin has a 1.75 points-per-game average against his former side St Mirren in the league (P12 W6 D3 L3), his joint highest as a manager against any opponent (also 1.75 v St Johnstone).
Mark Jardine
Fan writer
"Hi ChatGPT, can you take last week's 'we lost but didn't we do well against the Old Firm' column and freshen it up a little, add in a couple of references to Jacob Chapman having the game of his life and be a bit snide about Derek McInnes' joking post-match regarding his son being pals with Fraser Taylor? Other than that, a basic copy and paste should be fine. Cheers."
With no weekend football to occupy the minds of Buddies, it has been harder than usual to shake off the what-could-have-been from Ibrox last Wednesday.
Though Chapman's net-minding heroics defied a spate of Rangers attacks in the first half, Craig McLeish's side played their way into dictating much of the game after half-time.
Fraser Taylor, boyhood Buddie and academy late bloomer, had yet another showing of movement and passing excellence that will have tactics bloggers purring.
Having opened his Saints account at Rugby Park, the mortgage could justifiably have been wagered on him putting away his one-on-one with Ivor Pandur.
Time stood still as Taylor found himself with the freedom of Ibrox, set loose by some intricate passing at halfway, but the Croat held his nerve and a visibly furious Taylor bemoaned his own indecision.
The Saints had other chances, Declan John's fizzed ball across the goalmouth being similarly galling, but lacked the killer instinct needed to take points from Glasgow.
Then, to compound that frustration, a 90th-minute long ball was the undoing of an adjusted defensive line that had, until then, done themselves proud. Miovski held his water where Taylor hadn't and McInnes, as always, took the points from our grasp.
To lose from that position is disappointing, it needs to be, so any attempt to talk up the positives or stick to longer-term thinking is its own thing.
We need to be gutted when we play well and get nothing for it, gutted when we don't score having had chances, and gutted when a late lapse gives away a goal we should do better with.
This can all be true, without resorting to the kind of furious overreaction social media has instilled in us all.
Our manager, doubted in the court of public opinion, was Premiership manager of the month. Our new squad of young talents are performing well. Our existing talents like Taylor and Phillips are finding new levels.
There is the undeniable air we are still at the beginning of something, and watching that reveal itself week on week has been exciting. Long may it continue.
Watch Rangers grab last-gasp win over St Mirren
We asked for your views after St Mirren succumbed to an injury-time 1-0 defeat by Rangers at Ibrox.
Here's what some of you said:
Pauline: We played well, especially in the second half. Proud of every one of the players. Had Fraser Taylor's effort gone in it would have been a very different game. These games won't define our season. On to Dundee United.
Eddie: Once again a good show against an Old Firm side. First half our goalie kept us in the game. Second half we should have had at least one goal. As much as we played well we still ended up being beaten by a last-minute winner. Onwards and upwards as we won't judge our season on results against Rangers and Celtic.
Peter: We should have gone in front but nothing is ever easy in this league. The team gave their all and I'm proud of them.
John: Keeper did his bit to keep us in it first half. Another excellent performance second half where we could/should have scored a couple and Rangers could/should have been down to 10 men. We also could/should have had a penalty early on. Shows how far we have come when we are gutted at not getting a result. Enjoying the journey under Craig McLeish.
Highlights: Rangers 1-0 St Mirren
Watch the best of the action from Rangers' 1-0 win over St Mirren as Bijon Miovski nets the decisive strike in added time. (Available to UK users only)
St Mirren slipped to third in the Scottish Premiership behind hosts Rangers thanks to Bojan Miovski's stoppage-time winner at Ibrox.
Manager Craig McLeish was left "proud" of his side's performance, but what do the fans think?
Image source, SNSSt Mirren manager Craig McLeish tells BBC Scotland he is "so proud of the group" despite their 1-0 defeat by Rangers.
"Proud of their performance and how brave we were," he said.
"We had to weather some storms in the first half and Chappie's [Jacob Chapman] had to make some great saves, but we have to defend like that if we want to achieve anything.
"I was probably more disappointed after the cup game as we didn't show the best version of ourselves, but we were excellent in the second half.
"The boys have set standards and keep raising the bar.
"There's disappointment because you come so close to getting a point, but our season can't be defined by picking up a point at Ibrox.
"We have to pick up points elsewhere. If we continue to play with that bravery, I am sure we will do that."
As for Fraser Taylor's second-half miss that could have given St Mirren the lead before Bojan Miovski scored Rangers' stoppage-time winner, McLeish added: "He was magnificent tonight. He said that'll keep him up for a few nights that he's missed it.
"But he gets there, he puts himself in that position, a fantastic run through. He was brilliant all night and he's been great since he's come into the team.
"Those bits happen. It will be someone else next week."
Rangers boss Derek McInnes has never lost as a manager at home to St Mirren in the top flight, winning 10 and drawing seven of 17 such games across spells with St Johnstone, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Hearts.
St Mirren have won three consecutive away games in the Scottish Premiership, the first time they have done so in the top flight since May 2007 (also three in a row).
Rangers have won 25 of their past 28 home games against St Mirren in all competitions (D2 L1), including 16 of their latest 17 (L1 – 2-0 in February 2025).
St Mirren have lost three successive meetings with Rangers in all competitions, including a 5-1 League Cup defeat this season, after having been unbeaten in four against the Ibrox side beforehand (W2 D2).
Rangers have only lost one of their past 13 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) league games (W9 D3), although that was their last at home, a 2-1 defeat to Hibernian in May.
Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator
On Saturday, before his team's top-of-the-table clash with Celtic, I asked St Mirren manager Craig McLeish how easy it has been to implement the style of football that is enthralling the Paisley club's supporters amid their then unbeaten start to the league season.
"It's been quite straightforward," was the reply.
The man who led the Saints youth team under Aberdeen boss Stephen Robinson has produced a side that plays an exciting, fast-paced brand of football with a clear identity already. Eight new signings started the narrow defeat to the champions as well as Fraser Taylor, who was on loan at Partick Thistle last season.
Contrast that with Robinson's fortunes so far in the north east and Aberdeen's turgid goalless draw at home to Kilmarnock. It is stark.
Aberdeen were often slow and ponderous and were fortunate to take a point, with goalkeeper Marius Muller pulling off several excellent saves to keep Killie out.
The reaction from the Dons support at half-time and full-time was there for all to hear and wasn't lost on Robinson, who must look at their three pre-international window fixtures with trepidation.
They have a rematch in Ayrshire in the League Cup quarter-finals on Saturday evening, a game that was always going to be one of the most important in Aberdeen's season but now carries extra significance and pressure.
The Dons now face three away games against top-flight opponents with trips to Motherwell and Hibernian, following the cup tie, in the Premiership.
They haven't beaten a top-flight club away from home since 6 December last year and have only scored six goals in that abysmal run.
When Robinson was appointed during a sequence of one win in 13 at St Mirren, chairman Dave Cormack said: "There is a strong desire to re-establish a clear identity for our club, to become harder to play against and restore competitiveness in our matches."
The Northern Irishman's former youth coach has proven that is possible.
Image source, SNSRangers striker Lawrence Shankland faces up to four months out with a hamstring tear. He joins Youssef Chermiti (knee) and Tuur Rommens (groin) on the sidelines.
Daisuke Yokota will have a scan on a groin problem and is expected to miss out, Kosta Nedeljkovic has a foot issue and will be assessed, while Badredine Bouanani could make his debut.
St Mirren midfielder Samuel Ramos is a doubt with a hamstring problem. Killian Phillips (shin), Liam Donnelly (abductor), Malik Dijksteel (hamstring), Keanu Baccus (Achilles) and Jonah Ayunga (knee) remain out.
Sheelagh McLaren
BBC Scotland
Image source, SNSCraig McLeish has marked his early St Mirren tenure by winning the Scottish Premiership manager of the month award for August.
The Buddies picked up seven out of nine available points last month.
An opening-day 2-0 win at Falkirk was followed by a 1-0 victory at home to St Johnstone before a thrilling 3-3 draw with Motherwell.
McLeish, who was appointed on a three-year deal in June after steering the Buddies to survival as interim boss, said: "My name is on it but it's a club award.
"I'm delighted the players and staff get recognition for the work that we've put in.
"I'm not surprised it's come together so quickly - I get that from the outside it might look like that. There's an internal belief about what we're doing and the work we can do on the pitch.
"It could have been even better and we were close to it being even better. But we also recognise there's such small margins that we could be sitting in a much worse position."
St Mirren have 10 points from their opening five league fixtures and travel to face Rangers on Wednesday (19:45 BST).
Sheelagh McLaren
BBC Scotland
Image source, SNSSt Mirren manager Craig McLeish has addressed the media before Wednesday evening's Scottish Premiership trip to face Rangers.
Here are the main points.
McLeish, who was appointed permanent Buddies boss in June, is "not surprised it's come together so quickly" after his picked up 10 points in August.
"I get that from the outside it might look like that," McLeish adds. "There's an internal belief about what we're doing and the work we can do on the pitch."
He expects "tough moments throughout the season but it's about sticking together".
Having lost 5-1 at Ibrox in the League Cup this season, McLeish says his team "need to be secure in what we're doing in possession" on Wednesday night.
"We have to go there and show bravery like we did against Celtic," McLeish says in reference to Saturday evening's 2-1 home league defeat.
He adds: "I am really happy with where we're at, but I still think there's so much more to come from the group."
On whether there is a fear factor going to Ibrox, the Buddies boss says he is "trying to take fear away in any game".
With captain Lawrence Shankland missing for Rangers, St Mirren "have other strikers we have to prepare for" with Ryan Naderi having "caused us a few problems last time", says McLeish.
Team news: Killian Phillips is making his way back from a shin injury with a view to returning for the Dundee United game on 19 September.
Fellow midfielder Liam Donnelly will be back training next week as he recovers from an abductor problem. Samuel Ramos has a hamstring issue and will be monitored. Malik Dijksteel (hamstring), Keanu Baccus (Achilles) and Jonah Ayunga (ACL) remain out.
Mark Jardine
Fan writer
Celtic were in town at the weekend, which generally means a couple of things in the past few years of being a Saints fan.
Firstly, on what feels like the majority of occasions, the Buddies can be proud of their efforts despite earning none of the points.
It is a frustrating habit to have established, as it feels like an endorsement of diddy club status and accepting a pat on the head. However, on Saturday night, there is no denying the truth in the assessment.
Many questioned whether Craig McLeish would take lessons from the scoreline at Ibrox on League Cup duty and adopt a more pragmatic, defensively-minded approach.
Or would he double down on this season's commitment to playing out from the back, inviting the press, and focusing on chance creation above all else. The answer was decidedly the latter - and his side repaid that faith.
There were many things to be proud of. Nikolas Agrafiotis opening his account in black and white with a penalty that might still have been moving had the net not stopped it.
Ryan Carr, once again, displaying a level of quality that makes you wonder how he ended up here and not in some exotic setting.
Jacob Chapman's saves, passing ability and composure that would have some checking his blood pressure. Calvin Ramsay marauds as only he marauds, yet also shows remarkable restraint on his first-half yellow.
Ismeal Kabia increasingly looks like a winger that will give the league's right-backs sleepless Friday nights all season long.
On the night, a Luke Thomas tap-in might have earned the Saints what their endeavour deserved. But, in it was not tapped and points were not shared.
Secondly, the aftermath online among many will focus more on the perceived crime of having a smattering of empty seats in the home end than any genuine interest in what occurred on the pitch.
If there was any reasonable conversation to be had about why it's correct not to unseat season-ticket holders to hand over a larger away allocation, then I'm sure it would be had.
Instead, the usual chorus of "locking out fans while there are empty seats in the home end" rings out over 1,000 seats across three home stands - despite, as far as I'm aware, no similar general sale being available to Aberdeen fans or otherwise for the 1,500 tickets presumably unsold at Celtic Park the previous Wednesday.
A return to Ibrox on Wednesday night awaits, offering a chance to prove that five conceded in the cup was not a true reflection of this team and also some respite from having to answer Glaswegian questions about a one-away stand policy that has been universally popular with the club's fans and accountant alike.
Watch all the highlights from Celtic's narrow 2-1 victory at St Mirren, including two disallowed goals for the visitors. Available to UK users only.
St Mirren fans, we asked for your views after Sunday's narrow defeat by Celtic.
Here's what some of you said:
William: I thought Saints were terrific and deserved a draw. Before the season start, I and many others didn't want Craig McLeish to be St Mirren boss but this man has proved us wrong. He has put together a well knitted side. It's very early days but the league table has us dreaming of a European run. What odds on us beating a not-so-formidable Rangers at Ibrox on Wednesday?
Jimbo: Proud of the Buddies. Played some fantastic football and should have got at least an equaliser. A very young team and inexperience shows at times but the effort they are putting in deserves something. We can only get better with this attitude. A lot of us fans are eating humble pie and its a way to go but boy this fella McLeish is getting us excited at the prospects opening up ahead if we continue in this vain.
Simon: A good performance despite losing. We were exposed on the break, and were guilty of giving the ball away cheaply on occasion. Plenty of reasons for optimism though, and the football is as entertaining as anything we've seen in decades at St Mirren.
John: Another very good performance We had some good chances to take a point and can consider ourselves very unlucky. Keep this up and we'll be nearer the top than the bottom. I can't understand why the ref blew for full-time when Saints were on an attacking phase so close to the Celtic goal, I'm sure it wouldn't have happened at the other end. Well done Saints, proud of you.
Champions Celtic made it five Scottish Premiership wins out of five and consigned St Mirren to a season's first league defeat after coming from behind in Paisley.
Image source, SNSSt Mirren manager Craig McLeish: "I'm proud of the players and the effort they gave and what they tried to do throughout the game. The goals that we lose are probably disappointing from our point of view but Celtic have other chances in the game.
"We showed really good character. They never give up, they never give in. We then create chances, we have some of our best spells of play after we go 2-1 down. We're probably unlucky not to nick an equaliser.
"We're trying to improve every single week, every single game. You're not going to come up against that type of test very often and we have to make sure that we use it and we learn from it and we keep building on what we're doing it."
