Gus: We can’t be top of the crocks!

Jul 8 2009 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

BUDDIES boss Gus MacPherson last night revealed one of his main aims during pre-season is to avoid being left with crocked stars ahead of the 2009/10 campaign.

The St Mirren squad was hit by a string of injuries to important players during the pre-season preparations last summer.

That forced MacPherson to start the 2008/09 SPL campaign with a weakened squad.

And, with an even smaller squad to work with this time around, the last thing MacPherson needs is another treatment room full of stars before a ball is even kicked.

He said: “Injuries are part and parcel of this game and they are something you just have to contend with when they come along but our pre-season programme is really about common sense.

“There’s much more thought put into it these days. It’s slightly more scientific as there is much more input from the likes of the sports scientist and the physio. It’s really all about preparing the players as best we can for what lies ahead.”

The injury list started to grow last summer when right-back Jack Ross suffered a facial knock which needed seven stitches near his eye during St Mirren’s pre-season clash against Italian side AC Mantova at Lake Garda.

And fellow full-back David Barron picked up medial ligament damage during a bounce game which forced him to miss the start of the season.

To compound matters, midfield ace Andy Dorman suffered an injury to his back in the club’s final pre-season game at Darlington and Saints fans did not see the best of him until several weeks later.

Striker Craig Dargo also hobbled off in the same game after three minutes when he picked up ankle ligament damage and he too missed the start of the 2008/09 campaign.

Thankfully, this time around, only goalkeeper Mark Howard and midfielder Hugh Murray have been forced to sit out the pre-season preparations so far.

They are busy working through their rehabilitation programmes with Saints physio John McCreadie.

Murray underwent a groin operation during the summer, while Howard is recuperating from a knee injury he picked up against Hamilton Accies on the final day of last season.

MacPherson added: “Both Mark and Hugh are working through their rehab with the physio and have only missed the first two days of pre-season training, so there’s time for them to catch up. Here’s hoping we don’t get any other injuries.”