St Johnstone goalkeeper Kyle Thomson on learning from first team stars and why his early years of gymnastics still helps

Young St Johnstone goalkeeper Kyle Thomson is feeling the benefit of working alongside top professionals on a daily basis.

The 17-year-old from Perth has been picking up valuable experience training with first-team shot-stoppers including the likes of Dimitar Mitov and Ross Sinclair.

Thomson, who has not long joined Highland League side Brechin City on loan, is reaping the rewards of being in an environment with high-class operators.

“When I first started getting the opportunity to train, Zander Clark was the goalkeeper,” Thomson explained to the PA.

“He was brilliant with me. Really good. And obviously a brilliant goalkeeper.

“All of the current boys are just really good with me and I enjoy training with them and getting experience playing with the top guys.

“Dimitar has been brilliant and getting to meet new goalkeepers, who have different ways of working, has been great.

“It is just a really good environment where the goalies help me as much as they can. I’m getting the opportunity to train with them day in, day out.”

Thomson has been involved with Saints’ academy for a number of years now but, before then, a serious decision needed to be made whether to pursue football or gymnastics.

“I did gymnastics for around seven years and was balancing that with football growing up,” said Thomson, who played at youth level for Pitfour.

“I enjoyed both but it got to the point when it was getting serious with the two sports. I had to make a decision - but it was always going to be football.

“I actually always played outfield as well as goalie. Sometimes you would switch about.

“But I ended up being quite good in the goals so stuck there. It was when we started playing seven-a-side where everyone was saying ‘Kyle, in you go’. That