Trip to Killie will make it feel so real

It sometimes felt like an eternity but the football is finally back.

Come this time next week it will probably feel like it has never been away.

It might not have the feel about it, perhaps because it is the League Cup, but those of you who make the trip to Killie or watch on the television tonight will be witnessing yet another new chapter in the story of this fine football club.

It is time to strap yourself back in and prepare yourself for that St Mirren roller coaster.

The side’s pre-season friendlies had of course meant to have started last Saturday with the supposed glamour tie with Championship outfit Bolton Wanderers at the Simple Digital Arena.

By now we should have already been on the first loop.

Instead the fixture descended into, farce as the Bolton players confirmed at the 11th hour that they were on strike due to a dispute over unpaid wages.

That’s all fine and well, and you have to admire the Bolton players for taking a stand and not be taken for a ride following what appears to be months of wrangling with their board.

But what it has left Saints with, through no fault of their own it has to be stressed, is next to no preparation when it comes to matchday fitness.

Alan Stubbs admitted as much in his pre-match press conference on Wednesday afternoon.

Stubbs conceded he was frustrated with how the Bolton game panned out, leaving his side having not played a single friendly in the run-up to tonight’s League Cup opener against Premiership rivals Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

What it leaves us with is something of an unpredictability heading into what is an intriguing match-up this evening against a Kilmarnock team that many believe should act as something of an inspiration to the Buddies following their remarkable turnaround in fortunes under Steve Clarke.

Stubbs was adamant that he will treat every game of the competition as an opportunity to field a side he believes is good enough to win every game.

Tonight’s game, therefore, should allow us an opportunity to see what the manager believes is his strongest XI, and also a first glance at the players the gaffer has brought in.

Some eyebrows may have already been raised at the lack of progress in the market.

But there is no point judging a book by its cover – especially without having had a chance to peek inside.

Stubbs has a plan. In terms of recruitment he wants more players – and a look at the squad list would indicate he needs more players.

St Mirren’s pre-season schedule has been far from ideal.

A trip to La Manga may have guaranteed the warm weather– which in fairness Paisley could have afforded to them in their absence, but in some ways it could be assumed it is something that the team could have done without.

Since the moment Saints touched back down at Glasgow Airport little under a fortnight ago the only thing that has been on the agenda is transfers – with things having to stall simply because of the trip to Spain.

For much of June, St Mirren were playing catch up as they cobbled together a pre-season schedule having spent the most of the summer on the backfoot as they lined up a successor to Jack Ross.

St Mirren, the board, the management and the players are now under pressure to deliver a squad that is a match for the vast majority of the Premiership.

Each and every one associated with the club has been unequivocal in stating their ambitions for the season.

It is up to them all now to step up to the plate ahead of what is sure to be yet another roller coaster of a campaign for us Saints fans.