I’m ready to play as soon as we kick off

New signing Lyness is raring to go

New Saints recruit Dean Lyness insists he will be ready if called upon after penning a six-month deal with the Buddies.

The goalkeeper signed a short-term contract yesterday afternoon, following a successful trial with the Paisley side.

The Englishman will serve as back up to experienced stopper Craig Samson after the club moved to tie up a deal following a knee injury to loanee Danny Rogers.

The 27-year-old looks set to go straight into the squad for Saturday’s clash against Hibs as he deputises in place of youngster Lewis Muir on the bench.

Lyness told Express Sport : “Being a goalkeeper, you have got to be ready to play.

“If I get an opportunity, then I will give it my all and make sure I am more than ready to make a contribution.

“It has been a long pre-season for me not having a club, so I am delighted to have got the deal.

“I came in around three or four weeks ago and obviously the management change gave me the opportunity to come back in.

“You never know what is going to happen.

“With the new manager arriving, and speaking to Jamie Langfield, he was quite keen for him to have a look.”

The move to St Mirren marks a return to Scotland for the former Blackpool and Burton Albion keeper, who previously enjoyed a spell early in his career with Hearts.

He was also loaned out to East Fife during that spell but hasn’t played north of the border since 2011.

And he revealed he has relished a return to Scotland ever since.

Lyness added: “I was with Hearts a while back, a long time ago now. I was just a young boy at the time. “I really enjoyed being up here. “I met my wife here, so I didn’t really hesitate when the opportunity came up to come back to Scotland.

“I had a call from Langers and Saints said they might be interested in having a look.

“I jumped at the chance really to come in to try and get some work done.”