It’s good to be back

The wait has been worth it, says Gary

Gary MacKenzie admits he can’t have any complaints about a lack of gametime – even though he is champing at the bit to play.

The St Mirren defender was restored to the starting XI for Saturday’s win over Brechin City in what was his first home start since the opening game of the season.

A head knock and an Achilles injury had halted the experienced defender’s second season at Saints in its tracks, but with St Mirren sitting at the top of the league upon his return, the former Blackpool man insists he couldn’t exactly batter down Jack Ross’ door demanding a start.

He told Express Sport: “It has been a while – and I missed it.

“I have been back training for two months but the boys have been doing really well so I can’t complain. I have no qualms about not playing when they have been doing as well as they have been doing.

“I just need to wait my turn – that’s football.

“I have spoken to the gaffer and I understood that.

“There was never going to be sour grapes or anything like that because that understanding is there.

“We are top of the league so he doesn’t change the team, and that’s fine by me.”

St Mirren restored their 11-point lead at the top of the table with a 1-0 win, after Kyle Magennis struck with a first-half free-kick. And despite Saints struggling to dominate the game over their opponents, MacKenzie insists it was a good day at the office.

He added: “It was a good afternoon. It was three points and a clean sheet and it puts us closer to where we want to be.

“It wasn’t the prettiest afternoon of football but we showed the other side of us that got us over the line.

“We had to grind it out and we know we are not always going to win 3-0 or make it so easy.

“Brechin have given us good games in the past so sometimes you have just got to do what you need to do to get the result.

“Ultimately we got that, we are 11 points clear so I’d say it was a good afternoon.”

And MacKenzie joked that he was happy to be back in his natural position after being deployed as a makeshift striker the previous weekend.

The boys have been doing really well so I can’t complain Gary MacKenzie