Saints line up Spanish minnows El Canete in pre-season

Jul 9 2012 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

SAINTS have lined up a pre-season friendly with a Spanish Fourth Division team during their week-long warm weather training camp in the Costa del Sol.

The Buddies will face El Canete on Saturday, July 14.

Last week, Express Sports revealed how Danny Lennon has arranged a pre-season game with English club Barnsley, who are also heading to the Costa del Sol for a training camp, on Thursday, July 12.

St Mirren’s first pre-season friendly on UK soil will be the mouthwatering Renfrewshire Cup Final showdown with old rivals Morton at Cappielow.

That game will take place on Saturday, July 21, with kick-off at 3pm.

Three days later, on Tuesday, July 24, Saints will travel over the Erskine Bridge to take on Dumbarton at the Strathclyde Homes Stadium and kick-off for that one is 7.30pm.

The Buddies will then head south to play League One outfit Carlisle United at Brunton Park on Friday, July 27, starting at 7.15pm.

And, two days later, Lennon’s men will tackle Accrington Stanley, of League Two, at the Crown Ground. Kick-off time for that game is expected to be 3pm.

The Saints squad will be put through double training sessions today and tomorrow before they jet off to Spain on Wednesday.

Lennon said: “We will train on Wednesday evening, once we have arrived in Spain, and we then play Barnsley on Thursday.

“The game against El Canete, who are a semi-professional team who play in the Spanish Fourth Division, takes place on Saturday.

“In pre-season, we expect to give everyone at least 45 minutes each.

“The aim is for everyone to get a runout.

“Our time together in Spain will also give us the chance to go over our ambitions and expectations for the season ahead.

“Every player will know where they stand at this football club.”