With a head of hair that his St Johnstone team-mates have likened to Spanish World Cup winner Carles Puyol, teenage striker Stevie May was never going to be inconspicuous on a football field.
But after impressing on his starting debut for the Perth side against Motherwell on Wednesday night the 18-year-old now looks destined to become known for his football rather than his untamed curls.
May, whose skills lit up Saints’ 1-0 win over the Steelmen and drew lavish praise from manager Derek McInnes, revealed he isn’t making a fashion statement he simply can’t be bothered visiting a barber.
The forward said, “The hair helps me get noticed, because everyone knows me for that.
“The boys try to give me stick for the hair. They call me Puyol or a Colombian striker. That’s part of the banter. It’s good fun.”
He added, “I just couldn’t be bothered getting it cut, so I left it. I’m now known for having long hair, but I don’t mind.”
May made a scoring debut for Saints at the age of 16 against Airdrie and is being tipped for the top by McInnes.
The McDiarmid Park boss made a point of not telling him he was starting until just before the game and May believes that was the best thing to do.’Great experience’He said, “It was great to be awarded a start and the team worked hard to get the three points.
“I only found out I was playing 10 or 15 minutes before we went into the dressing room for the team talk. I was delighted to get the start.
“It was probably better for me that way. If I’d known the night before, I probably wouldn’t have got any sleep. It was great to be involved from the start and get a taste of it.”
He added, “It’s brilliant to be involved with all the big players we have here. It’s great experience for me.
“Before the game, everyone encouraged me, especially experienced players like Jody Morris and Michael Duberry. They helped me all the way.
“It would be great to start against Hearts at the weekend.”Homegrown heroMcInnes thought about sending May out on loan to gain first-team experience but decided he has a big part to play between now and the end of the season.
A Saints fan, he has been with the club since the age of nine and is now realising a dream to be playing for the first team.
He said, “The manager spoke to me and said if the time comes for a loan move and he feels it will benefit me, then he will do that.
“But I’d rather be here, getting a game if I can. Now that I’m involved more, it’s brilliant. I’m a St Johnstone supporter. I’ve been following them ever since I came to the club as a young boy.
“I’ve been here for seven or eight years now and I took to the club straight away.”
He added, “I started with the St Johnstone community academy when I was about nine and then I played boys’ club and here at the same time.
“I used to come and watch games every now and again usually the bigger games like the semi-finals at Hampden.”