The 24-year-old midfielder is set to leave Oxford United, who he joined from Dungannon Swifts in January 2022, to sign for St Mirren and the Belfast Telegraph understands that the deal to take him to Scotland is almost complete.

Smyth made his League One debut for Oxford in March of last year and then helped them reach the Play-Offs this season, rising to prominence after scoring a stunning goal against Charlton Athletic at the turn of the year.

He later faded from the first-team picture and wasn’t involved when they beat Bolton Wanderers 2-0 a fortnight ago to win promotion to the Championship.

The move to St Mirren is seen as fresh start and an opportunity to earn first-team football at a high level under the management of former Northern Ireland international Stephen Robinson, whose number two is Michael O’Neill’s assistant manager Diarmuid O’Carroll.

It is understood that only the formalities are still to be completed before the signing is announced and Smyth will then be in line to make his debut when the Saints play in Europe for the first time in 35 years after Robinson guided them to fifth place in the League.

They will enter the second round of the Uefa Conference League, with Irish Cup winners Cliftonville a potential opponent.