For years, Caolan Boyd-Munce's weekends have depended on the outcome on a Saturday afternoon. Unable to fully remove himself from football, the Northern Ireland midfielder was often fixated on mistakes or where he could improve.

That was, until, he became a father earlier this month as long-time partner Joanne - also from West Belfast - gave birth to their son Roux. 

Boyd-Munce missed international duty with Northern Ireland as he supported partner Joanne - with more than a little bit of help from mum Louise and mother-in-law Lisa.

Quickly, the St Mirren centre-midfielder has had his eyes opened to life beyond football - with Roux now settling down after an infection following a three-day labour.

 "It has been a big week," said Boyd-Munce. "To be fair, my missus has took the brunt of it as we don't get the paternity leave to adjust so it's about balancing when I need to go into the spare bed for a night.

"She asked me if I liked the name and I was happy with it. It's something different. I think everyone was expecting an Irish name.

"As soon as he came out and cried for the first time, I thought, 'Jesus, this is real now'. He just eats and sleeps so as long as he keeps doing that it will be alright!

"It was something I struggled with earlier in my career; no matter what happened in your game on the Saturday, you always picked out the negatives.

"I would go home to the missus who I have been with for a few years and the whole weekend is consumed by it; it's ruined. It's not fair on her as she needs to live with it.

"Now the little man is here, it brings a little bit of 'wise up Caolan!' 

"It's been a week but feels about three weeks already because we were in the hospital, it was a three-day labour and I didn't get to go away with the national team. The wee man had a little infection but it's starting to settle now.

"Michael [O'Neill] was brilliant. He was constantly checking in."

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Boyd-Munce isn't alone in raising a baby in the St Mirren squad with four team-mates all with newborns in the last seven months.

"We've a load here," he said of any team-mates also in the early stages of parenthood. "There is Kevin [van Veen], Jonah [Ayunga], Kilts [Greg Kiltie], Mika [Mikael Mandron] and me all in the last seven months.

"There's a proper wee community in there and maybe a five-a-side team.

"It used to be you would talk about your nights out on a Monday morning whereas now it's asking how the wee man slept!

"Some days you come in and see boys like Kilts and you are like: It's been a long night, hasn't it?"

Given the new arrival in the family, it's clear Boyd-Munce is more than settled in Paisley, but the Northern Ireland internationalist had been targeted by English clubs in the summer.

St Mirren rejected bids from Leyton Orient with Wigan also credited with an interest in the midfielder.

However, from the off, Boyd-Munce had stated his desire to remain a St Mirren player with the club hopeful of agreeing a contract extension.

On the possibility of a transfer exit, Boyd-Munce said: "Myself, the gaffer [Stephen Robinson] and Derm [Diarmuid O'Carroll] talked and from the first day of pre-season it was: 'Where's your head at?'

"I haven't worked this hard over the last two years to just jump ship. Why would I? The missus was due, I'm settled and I'm happy and I think people could see that.

"I was never in any major rush. If ever there was a stage the club needed to sell, it might have been different but we weren't there.

"My family love it here and with the wee man here it's more than just me. You have to have everyone's opinion."