I’ll fight to get off the bench
Sutton’s vow to battle
Craig Ritchie
St Mirren striker John Sutton insists he just needs to buckle down in a bid to win back a place in the Saints’ starting line-up.
The veteran forward has been reduced to no more than a substitute in recent weeks having previously started the first two league games of the campaign.
Despite having started Saturday’s win over Hearts Colts on the bench, once again, the Englishman came on in the closing stages to notch his side’s third of the afternoon to put the tie beyond any doubt.
He admits that with an increased squad size that he faces a battle for game-time, with Gavin Reilly, Ross Stewart, Darryl Duffy and himself all vying for a first team place.
But that won’t deter the 33-yearold’s ambitions of success this season.
Sutton said: “You are part of a squad and the main thing is we go up this season.
“There is good competition for places but hopefully as the season goes on I can make a big contribution to the team.
“We have got a really good squad of players, there is no doubt about that, and everything is set up for us to do really well.
“It is a case of going out on the pitch and doing it when you get the change.
“It is relentless and to win the league you need to win most weeks of the season.
“It is a tough ask but hopefully with what we have got in the changing room we can go on and do that.
“It is always nice to score but I’m not too fussed.
“It is good to score but, if you look at what Gavin has done with the cross, it is just nice to get on the end of it.”
St Mirren now turn their att e ntions back to the Championship this Saturday as they prepare to welcome John Robertson’s Inverness Caledonian Thistle to the Paisley 2021 Stadium.
Following a good start, which has included wins over Falkirk and Dundee United in recent weeks, expectations are on the rise.
Having previously won the title with Saints back in 2006, Sutton knows what it will take to replicate that success.
And he believes the early signs are good.
Sutton added: “We want to win every competition we are in.
“The league has gone alright and we are through to the next round in this tournament so the signs are there for a successful season.
“But it is a long season and every week brings a massive game for us so we are already looking ahead to Inverness.”