Kiwi striker Alex Greive has made a whirlwind Scottish Premier League debut just hours after signing for St Mirren – and narrowly missed a chance to score.
The 22-year-old is the first New Zealander to join St Mirren since the Renfrewshire outfit forged a strategic partnership with his Auckland club Birkenhead United.
St Mirren announced Greive’s signing on Tuesday afternoon (early Wednesday NZ time) and within hours of his signing, St Mirren named the Kiwi recruit among his substitutes for St Mirren’s visit to Dundee United on Wednesday morning (NZ time).
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Greive came off the bench as an 88th minute substitute for Greg Kiltie in Saints’ 2-1 victory at Dundee United’s Tannadice Park, giving him a brief first taste of SPL action.
He could have covered himself in glory with a 90th minute chance, but was astray with a left-footed shot from the centre of the penalty area as St Mirren bounced back after 11 games without a win.
If Greive establishes himself, he could find himself running out against Old Firm giants Rangers and Celtic.
Greive was a standout for Birkenhead in the 2021 New Zealand domestic season, scoring 25 goals in 33 games in the calendar year and winning the Northern Premier League MVP award.
He was also selected in the 2020-2021 ISPS Handa Men’s Premiership Team of the Season.
Greive – who was part of the OlyWhites’ longlist but was not part of the final Tokyo Olympic Games squad or a non-travelling reserve – has joined St Mirren on an 18-month deal.
“We are delighted to have another addition to the squad at the top end of the pitch,’’ Saints manager Goodwin said before the Dundee United game.
“Alex is one we have been working with for the last wee while but couldn’t get him registered until the January window opened up.
“He’s brings creativity, he’s a little bit different to some of the other strikers we have at the moment, he’s quite dynamic and he’s a decent footballer so we’re excited to have him involved.”
A Sacred Heart College product – and 2016 national secondary schools tournament MVP – Greive played at Northern Kentucky University on a football scholarship and scored two goals in 10 games for US League Two club Cincinatti Dutch Lions in 2019 before returning to Auckland.
Although the New Zealand domestic game is essentially amateur, Goodwin described Greive as “a very good professional. He’s looked very sharp in training and I think he’s surprised one or two.”
St Mirren – based in Paisley, near Glasgow – are ninth in the 12-team SPL standings after finishing seventh last season.
They formed sister club alliances last year with two New Zealand clubs, Birkenhead United and Nelson Suburbs.
Greive will be the only Kiwi in the SPL, but will have Australasian company at Saints with Australian right back Matt Millar, 25, joining this season after A-League experience with the Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets.
Australian players have made a real impact in the SPL, led by Socceroo Tom Rogic at Glasgow Celtic and former Wellington Phoenix midfielder Cameron Devlin at Edinburgh club Hearts.
St Mirren’s strikeforce is led by Connor Ronan, a Republic of Ireland age-group international on loan from English Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
One-cap Scotland international Eamonn Brophy scored Saints’ conclusive second goal against Dundee United and former Middlesbrough and Aberdeen striker Curtis Main is also on the Paisley club’s books.
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