Killian Phillips: 'I was a bit of a Roy Keane but I think I’m turning into Robbie'

The 24-year-old Republic of Ireland midfielder has been deployed in attack of late.

Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson and Killian Phillips. Pic: Bryan Keane/Inpho

Killian Phillips joked about swapping his Irish idols after his move up front for St Mirren paid off with a play-off goal against Partick Thistle.

The 24-year-old Republic of Ireland midfielder has been deployed in attack post-split by interim boss Craig McLeish and scored in the penultimate William Hill Premiership game of the season as the Buddies won 2-0 at Aberdeen.

Having been consigned to 11th place in the top flight, the Premier Sports Cup winners were paired with the Jags, who finished second in the Championship, in the play-off final.

And in the first leg on Thursday night Phillips came close with several efforts before putting the visitors ahead with a well-taken goal in the 39th minute of an evenly-matched game.

Mark Wilson’s side came back strongly in the second half and levelled through Aidan Fitzpatrick in the 62nd minute to set up nicely the return game in Paisley on Monday night.

“I thought I was a bit of a Roy Keane but I think I’m turning into Robbie (Keane) a bit,” said Phillips, asked about his move into attack.

“My celebration isn’t as good but, listen, it’s something new and it’s only going to help me.

“I want to score more goals from midfield and I’m getting into the box a lot more.

“Never, never (played in attack before). It’s something new for me. I was a bit surprised when (McLeish) said to me.

“Listen, it’s the business end of the season and anything goes. If it is going to help the team, I will play anywhere.

“I grew up playing football on the road so I think I can play anywhere on the pitch and I think I have showed that.

“It’s only going to help me and if I can help the team that’s the most important thing.” Phillips is confident Saints can finish the job on Monday night if they find a clinical edge.

He said: “We need to do what worked for us and what we got joy from in the first leg.

“We played forward and had a couple of chances, their defender has done well to block and the keeper’s made a good save.

“We need to take that start into Monday and hopefully that will be enough.

“We need to have a bit more control in the game at times.

“They will have spells when they are on top and we have to nullify that. We maybe didn’t do that as well as we have throughout the season.

“When we’re on top, we have to score and kill the game.”