Shamal George being assessed ahead of St Mirren’s Scottish Cup semi-final clash

St Mirren goalkeeper Shamal George is being assessed ahead of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic after sustaining an ankle injury in training.

George – on loan from Wycombe – had recovered from the trapped nerve in his neck which saw him replaced by Ryan Mullen in the first half of the 1-0 William Hill Premiership defeat by the Hoops at Parkhead on Saturday.

It was only a second league appearance for the 24-year-old back-up keeper, who signed from Morton last summer.

Interim boss Craig McLeish revealed some concern around George ahead of the last-four tie at Barclays Hampden on Sunday afternoon after the 28-year-old had to cut short a training session at the SMISA Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

He said: “We need to assess it. He’s only just went over to his ankle, so we’re hoping that he’s going to be OK.

“We have to take precautions and just take the weight off it straight away.

“Ryan came in at the weekend and did great throughout the game in place of Shamal.

“The physio is with him just now so we’ll see how that goes, but if Ryan steps in then we’re more than comfortable and confident with what Ryan can do as well.

“He had to go on as a substitute goalkeeper, as a back-up goalkeeper.

“To go in the way he did at Celtic Park in front of the fans and the crowd and to look so assured – and we’re obviously playing a little bit differently, where we’re asking more of the goalkeepers with the ball at their feet – he gave us so much of that in the second half as well.

“So, the fact that he’s done it so recently and he may have to do it again – we need to wait on Shamal’s update – then whoever’s in and goals for us, we’re confident with whatever we go with.”