McClaren reference could be key for St Mirren target Calvin

A glowing reference from former England manager Steve McClaren could help St Mirren sign winger Jalmaro Calvin.

The 22-year-old's former Cavalier and international team-mate Richard King has already joined St Mirren.

Calvin helped his domestic side win consecutive Jamaica Premier League titles and was named best young player in their Concacaf Caribbean Cup triumph.

And Robinson says McClaren, who is now in charge of the Jamaican national side, provided a reference as part of Calvin's work permit hearing.

"Jalmaro's somebody that we liked," said the Northern Irishman.

"He adds something different, real pace and energy in the wide areas are through the middle. We're just waiting for paperwork now.

"Steve has given his view on Jalmaro as well as Richard. Jalmaro is a young boy, probably a little bit further behind Richard, but we see a lot of real potential if we can get him over the line."

Robinson says that he is having to "temper expectations" around the central defender King, who Mclaren has tipped for big things.

The St Mirren manager had been tracking the 23-year-old defender and considered signing him at the start of the year prior to eventually bringing him to Paisley last month.

"Steve's been very vocal about where he thinks Richard can play and where he can go to," said Robinson.

"Scottish football will be new to Richard. The pace of the game, the physicality of the game may be slightly different, but certainly he's got all the raw ingredients and raw attributes to be very successful.

"My agent alerted me to him. We didn't do it in January, as we just felt at that stage we weren't doing particularly well, and it was a little bit of a risk. We wanted to make sure it was a little bit more of a solid signing, so to speak.

"In between times, we've done a lot more research, got a lot more feedback from Steve McLaren and his assistant Paul Simpson, two guys that have managed at the top end of the game and then we grew the relationship with Rudolf Speed, the owner of Cavalier and the coach at Cavalier."

Robinson says St Mirren's financial situation means they have to explore new markets for players.

He points to the signings of Australian internationals Ryan Strain (now at Dundee United ) and Keanu Baccus (now at Mansfield Town ) as evidence of that approach.

"It's difficult now because teams in Northern Ireland and the south of Ireland are paying equal money that we're paying and more," said Robinson.

"So it's hard to stay ahead of it, but we have to. We have no choice because we don't have millionaire backers, we don't have somebody waving a magic wand."