We can’t crash on the Brox
The frustrated full-back was an unused sub a dispiriting 45 times in two seasons as he rode the pine waiting in vain behind the Scotland defender.
But after starting 18 out of 20 in the top flight since his loan move to St Mi r ren, the 23-year- old is thrilled to have sealed a deal to play the second half of the season in Paisley.
And he shrugs at the ‘ What might have been’ of watching Taylor leave for Celtic, insisting he’ll be far more prepared to take the No. 3 jersey at Rugby Park next season than he would have been in August.
Waters was given the nod last week to see out the campaign with his former Alloa gaffer Jim Goodwin.
And the player admitted: “I’m delighted. Killie had a recall option and I wasn’t sure what would happen, especially with Alex Dyer getting the job, or if I’d need to go back.
“But this is the most I’ve played since I went out on loan to Alloa from Celtic and I’ve really enjoyed it.
“I could have stayed at Kilmarnock. I didn’t know if Greg was going or staying – and if he stayed I wouldn’t have got much game time.
“I had to make a decision and it has been the right one for me because I’ve been playing.
“I know the left- back at Kilmarnock (Niko Hamalainen) is on loan until the summer.
“Hopefully, after a full season here I can go back with more experience and able to step in.
“I’ve only spoken to Alex Dyer on the couple of times when we played Kilmarnock. I’ve been speaking to James Fowler, the new director of football.
“He was saying I’d probably be better staying here for the next six months because I still have another year on my contract at Killie after that.
“I want to be playing every week because that brings the best out of me.
“It maybe took me five or six games to get up to speed because it’s really my f irst season in the top league.
“By the time I go back to Killie I will have learned a lot.”
Waters admits there’s a comfort factor in playing for
Goodwin as well, having starred alongside him for the Wasps before the Irishman took over from Jack Ross in the dugout.
He joked: “He’s much calmer off the park than the nut job he was on the pitch!
“I can’t thank him enough for bringing me here and showing faith in me. I want to reward him for that with some good performances.”
Goodwin, who bolstered his defence last week by signing Akin Famewo and Conor
McCarthy, was relieved to avoid a Killie callback for a player who has become an integral part of his side
He said: “It ’ s always a concern when you take good players on loan, that the parent club wil l call him back, as happened with Sean McLoughlin.
“Sean was outstanding, Hull recognised it, watched him, read our reports and when they took him back he was straight into their squad.
“Replacing Sean so quickly was great but to try and do that and find a left-back of similar quality to Calum would have been so difficult.” Meanwhile, Waters insists
St Mirren are out to hit the ground running on Saturday when they host Junior side Broxburn in the Scottish Cup.
The last thing he wants is to learn what being on the wrong end of an upset feels like.
He said: “When I was at Alloa we beat Ross County and Inverness in the League Cup when we were two divisions below them.
“But luckily I’ve never been on the receiving end and I don’t plan on it happening now.”
Jim Goodwin insists he’ll be treating Broxburn Athletic like the Old Firm to avoid a Scottish Cup shaming on Saturday.
The East of Scotland PPremier Division side are ssitting in sixth spot in their lleague, five tiers below tthe Buddies.
But with half an eye on a rrun to Hampden, the PPaisley boss warned: “It’s rreally important we don’t eexpect an easy ride.
“We have to give them tthe exact same attention tto detail as we do any PPremiership team we face.
“We watched them last wweekend and I’ve watched tthem this weekend.
“I ’ ve spoken to the Linlithgow Rose manager Brown Ferguson to see if he can give us information so we’re not going to underestimate Broxburn.
“They’ve sold 1400 tickets as well so fair play to them. It will be a fantastic atmosphere and they’ll want to cause a big Cup upset.”
Goodwin strengthened Saints last week with the arrival of Akin Famewo on loan from Norwich plus Irish duo Conor McCarthy and Jamie McGrath.
He has been quick to impress on his new recruits the value of a Cup run.
The gaffer said: “I was talking to a couple of new signings about the importance of this game, not just from a f i na nc i a l aspect but the fact you’re only a few rounds away from a trip to Hampden.
“I don’t like harping back to the League Cup run in 2013 but it shows what can happen.
“That’s got to be the mindset going into it – not just happy to get into the next round and get a Celtic or Rangers then get some money off the back of it.
“Plenty of teams have shown in the past decade that, if you do it right, you can go all the way.
“And the draw can be kind to you as well.
“Livingston were the only top-flight team Hearts played on the way to the Final last year. It’s a great day out for the supporters and players who have never experienced it – and that has to be our incentive.”