Haining: 'I’m ready to fight for our SPL place'

Apr 29 2009 by Jeff Holmes, Paisley Daily Express

ST Mirren stopper Will Haining yesterday handed boss Gus MacPherson a timely boost by declaring himself fit for Saturday’s crunch match with Inverness.

The tough-tackling centre-back suffered a leg knock in a challenge with Rangers midfielder Pedro Mendes during Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi-final defeat at Hampden.

He spent Monday on the treatment table – but has recovered and is available to play his part in Saints’ SPL survival battle.

He told Express Sport: “I felt a little twinge when I challenged Mendes but managed to play on for the rest of the match.

“It stiffened up on the Sunday so I headed straight for the treatment room the following morning.

“Thankfully the injury has responded to treatment.”

Haining added: “A lot has been made of the challenge.

“But as far as I’m concerned it was nothing more than two players going for the ball.”

The player is already gearing up for the home match with Caley Thistle, just four weeks after the Buddies lost 2-1 in Inverness.

Haining, 26, has just burst back into the first team picture.

And he says he was distraught at the possibility of missing out on the run-in.

He revealed: “I’ve just got back into the team after missing out on a big chunk of the season.

“So the last thing I wanted personally was to miss out again through injury.

“I’m up for Saturday’s game.

“I’m determined to play my part and help St Mirren avoid the drop.”

The Buddies are two points clear of second-bottom Caley and six ahead of Falkirk.

But Haining insists they now start again with a blank canvas.

He said: “Some of the other teams would no doubt rather be in our position.

“But we’re still in the mix, and a couple of bad results would drag us straight back into the mire.

“Thankfully, though, all the lads are upbeat.

“There’s a real air of optimism about the place.

“We’re well aware that a failure to create and convert chances has put us in this position.

“It’s up to us to get ourselves out of it.

“We have the belief and hopefully a good result will help us pull away from the bottom.

“Our fans will get right behind us and that will hopefully help us get the result we all want.

“Staying in the SPL means everything.”