All eyes are on Hampden Park this Sunday as interim St Mirren manager Craig McLeish faces the ultimate audition. A victory over Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final could reportedly see the 36-year-old handed the permanent manager's job as soon as Monday morning.

Since stepping up from his academy role last month to replace Stephen Robinson, McLeish has engineered a notable turnaround. His tenure began with narrow 1-0 defeats to the Old Firm giants, Rangers and Celtic, but he has since steered the Buddies to back-to-back wins against Falkirk and Aberdeen, injecting fresh confidence into the squad.

The impressive shift in form has not gone unnoticed. Motherwell midfielder Andy Halliday, speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, believes a historic win against Celtic would make McLeish a shoo-in for the role. "I think if he wins this game on Sunday there will be a contract for him on Monday morning," Halliday stated.

Halliday praised McLeish's immediate impact, noting the team is playing with a renewed style and vigor not seen in some time. "You hear managers talk so often about needing a transfer window, needing a few weeks, but McLeish has turned things round in a matter of days," he said, highlighting the rapid transformation under the young boss.

McLeish himself has expressed openness to taking the job permanently. Now, with his team playing with belief, Sunday's high-stakes clash is more than just a cup tie—it's a potential career-defining moment that could solidify his place in the St Mirren dugout.