Adam keen to make up for lost time
Craig Ritchie
Adam Eckersley insists he can’t wait to test himself at the highest level as he prepares to play in the Premiership for the first time.
The Englishman has previously won the Championship with Hearts before he was released by the Edinburgh side at the end of that season. However, as St Mirren get set for a return to the top flight, Eckersley is raring to make up for lost time.
He will miss tomorrow’s clash at Falkirk following a calf problem which also ruled him out of last weekend’s win over Morton.
But Eckersley says he already has his eyes on pre-season training as he looks to hit the ground running.
He said: “I’m really looking forward to next season. It feels to me that I have really got a chance to go and prove myself again by taking a step up.
“I just want to go and push myself and see how I make that step up.
“I’m upset I couldn’t play the last couple of games. I wanted to play but I have played my part this year by playing a lot of games and now is the time for a little break to get some rest in the legs and be ready for pre-season.”
The full- back has been one of Saints’ most consistent performers throughout the season, with the Buddies recording 14 wins from 18 home games.
And Eckersley pointed to that form as one of the main reasons that Saints have managed to turn their fortunes around having narrowly avoided relegation just last season.
He said: “This has been like a fortress this place this year. It hasn’t been easy for any team to come and take points off us and we have proved how resiliant we are.
“It feels great. It has been a long time since we all came together in January and it has been a long road.
“Now it is complete and we have a medal to prove it and it is a fantastic feeling.
“Everyone had written us off last January and no- one thought we could stay up. So to go on and win the league by a mile is all credit to the players and the staff and everybody involved at the club. It has been a real team effort.”