Injury-hit Buddies call on reserve strikeforce

Stephen Robinson says St Mirren’s reserve strikers will need to step up to the plate after Alex Greive was ruled out for at least a month.

With key forward Jonah Ayunga already on the treatment table for the rest of the campaign after suffering a cruciate ligament injury, New Zealand international Greive will now also be missing after hobbling off against Celtic last weekend with an ankle issue.

That leaves the Buddies short of options up front, with deadline day loan signing Tony Watt and academy prospects Lewis Jamieson and Kieran Offord now the Paisley club’s only recognised strikers alongside regular starter Curtis Main.

Robinson said:“Alex Greive is going to be out longer than we’d hoped. We haven’t had the scan results yet, but it’s looking like a four to six-week injury.

“That leaves us very short at the top end of the pitch. Ultimately, we’ve lost four centre forwards since the January window, two through no fault of our own in Jonah Ayunga and Alex through injury.

“It’s time for others to step up now. We brought LJ and Kieran back to bolster the squad. People say to give them chances but they get chances in training every day. Every time they walk on to the pitch is a chance to prove they deserve to be in the first team. It’s up to them to show they’ve got the mindset to be first-team players.”

There was a more positive injury update on centre back Charles Dunne who missed the Saints’Scottish Cup clash with Celtic with a tight hamstring.

He may return to face former side Motherwell tonight, with Robinson adding: “We may have Charles available again. His scan didn’t show anything too untoward, so we’ll see how he gets on in training.”