ARQUIN JOINED THE BUDDIES TO BEAT DROP

YOANN ARQUIN has lit the blue touch paper ahead of tomorrow’s bottom-of-the table clash by claiming he swapped Ross County for St Mirren because the Buddies have a better chance of beating the drop. The French-born Martinique striker quit the Staggies when his contract expired on January 2, claiming Jim McIntyre did not do enough to show him he was wanted in the Highlands. But now the 26-year-old says he has signed for the Paisley side — who sit level with County on 11 points at the foot of the Premiership — because he believes they can stay up. He will have a chance to put his claims to the test tomorrow when Saints take on his old side at the Global Energy Stadium. Arquin, who has signed on until the end of the season, said: ‘It is a good team with a good manager, so my feelings are good and I’m happy to sign. ‘I think St Mirren have a better chance of staying up than Ross County. ‘I need to play, I need to score and I aim to stay up with St Mirren. ‘We just need to win some games, starting on Saturday. If we do that then our chances are good. ‘My first game is against my old club, so I’m just looking to get a victory. ‘It wasn’t a disappointing end for me at Ross County. ‘My contract was finished so now I look forward. I never look backwards. ‘But I didn’t feel wanted up there. My contract was finished and they let me leave. ‘Now I want to look forward with St Mirren.’ Arquin believes he has the ability to help Saints climb away from the relegation zone and push towards a top-six place. He knows exactly what is at stake tomorrow and is sure he can using his knowledge of the County defence to exploit their weaknesses. ‘I know the County players, so maybe it’s a chance to look for any weaknesses in their defence,’ he said. ‘First of all I want to play, I want to score goals for St Mirren and help the club climb off the bottom and look at getting to eighth place, then maybe seventh and upwards from there.’ Arquin (left) has been impressed with Saints caretaker boss Gary Teale and the fact he has made him feel ‘wanted’. ‘I’ve joined a good club which is full of good people and a manager who believes in me. Gary Teale has already given my confidence a boost. ‘That’s been good for me already, sometimes players need a manager who will talk to them.’ Meanwhile, County have snapped up young Fulham centre-half Cameron Burgess, a former Scotland Under-19 international who chose to defect to the Australia national set-up last September, until the end of the season. They have also secured Paul Quinn on an extended deal through the same period.