WE’RE STILL CONTRACK

McMenamin aims to make up for lost time

Conor McMenamin is aiming to finish the season with a flourish after playing through the pain barrier.

The St Mirren winger spent a huge chunk of the season between October and January nursing a knee injury but continued to play.

In the end, boss Stephen Robinson pulled him out of the firing line after the 1-0 win over League One Queen of the South in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

McMenamin was sidelined for more than a month before returning from the bench in that dramatic 2-1 injury-time victory at home to Aberdeen.

The 28-year-old has been involved in every game since and also won two more caps for Northern Ireland after featuring as a sub in the 1-1 draw with Romania and 1-0 triumph over Scotland at Hampden.

Now McMenamin, who signed from Northern Irish side Glentoran last summer, is ready to make his mark again in the final seven games of the campaign as the Buddies chase back-toback top-six Premiership finishes.

He said: “My knee was causing me bother and I had a scan around October/November time but just tried to play through it to try and help the team.

“I probably should have pulled out but then the gaffer made the decision to pull me out.

“I’m still not over it but I’m at the stage now where I can manage it and stay on top of it.

“You try to play through it and think you are doing a good thing but end up doing yourself more harm.

“It’s something I can learn from. I should have held my hands up a lot sooner than I did but I’m now looking to finish the season strongly.

“Hopefully I can just kick on now to the end of the season and help the team.”

McMenamin says the SMiSA feels like home and added: “I want to score more goals and help the team win. We want a top-six spot. We deserve it because the boys have been brilliant.”