Craig: 'Let’s Dargo for it!'

Nov 24 2009 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

COMEBACK king Craig Dargo last night urged Buddies boss Gus MacPherson to let him loose against Celtic as Saints aim to pile on the misery for Tony Mowbray’s men.

Dargo came off the bench to replace Michael Higdon during Saturday’s frustrating 1-1 draw with Hibernian to end a four-game absence caused by a shoulder injury he suffered against Falkirk last month.

Now the 31-year-old striker is hoping he will be handed a place in the starting 11 when the Buddies line up against the Hoops in four days’ time.

Dargo told Express Sports: “It’s good to be back because it gives the manager different options.

“I’m definitely ready to go if called upon for the match at Parkhead this weekend.

“It will be a difficult game for us but, if we can produce the type of performance that we managed against Hibs on Saturday, then we’ll have a chance of getting a positive result.”

Dargo managed 12 minutes on the park against Hibs on Saturday as he continues his fight to regain full fitness.

And the little hitman has revealed that he first picked up his troublesome shoulder injury against Kilmarnock almost a year ago.

Dargo was crocked when he was clattered to the ground by Killie goalie Alan Combe during a 1-1 draw in St Mirren’s first SPL game at the new stadium in Greenhill Road.

And the problem became unbearable last month when he landed on his shoulder during the 3-1 victory away to Falkirk.

But he’s now on the road to recovery again and is eager to recapture the red-hot form he was enjoying before being forced on to the sidelines.

Dargo said: “My shoulder has been a problem since that Kilmarnock game when I was brought down by Combe.

“But I’m not feeling too bad now and, hopefully, it is going to settle down.

“I was out of action for a couple of weeks.

“But, when the international break came along, I was able to train again.

“And, if the manager needs me this Saturday, I’d be delighted to be involved.”

Dargo admits his Buddies were frustrated not to collect all three points against Hibs on Saturday.

He added: “We put on a good performance and dominated the game for long spells and it took a magnificent strike from Derek Riordan to score against us.

“We will take the positives from the way we played against Hibs because we were on top and created lots of chances to score.”