Crocked Saints stopper desperate to take in Hearts tie

DARREN McGREGOR may not be able to take to the Tynecastle pitch on Saturday as his St Mirren side travel to Hearts, but the highly-rated Edinburgh-born centre-half is hoping he’ll be there in the stands cheering his team-mates on.

After suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury last month against Dundee United at Tannadice, McGregor has been told he faces six-to-nine months on the sidelines. He’s even been told he shouldn’t sit in the stand for a full 90 minutes, his physio mindful of the impact that could have on his recovery.Even still, the upbeat Leither, a Hibs fan to boot, is confident he can be there to offer support to the Buddies as they look to continue their good start to the season.

“I was told because I’m still recovering from the cruciate, sitting for an hour-and-a-half wouldn’t be the best, so Hibs at Easter Road [at the end of last month] was the only game I saw,” said McGregor.

“I feel even better now and will speak to our physio Gerry Docherty to see if I can go through. Tynecastle’s a great place. Before I played there, the boys in the changing room said it was one of the best places to play. In terms of atmosphere, it’s a great place to go. I’m sure the guys will go there and do well. We should have gone there last season and won [when Hearts won 3-2 with two late goals in March].

St Mirren have been lauded for their start of their season. They currently lie sixth in the SPL, on nine points alongside Hearts and Kilmarnock. Their style of play, as well as their league position, has been the subject of many plaudits. Gone is the industrial element of their game, replaced by slick passing, pace and movement. Manager Danny Lennon made shrewd signings in the summer. Steven Thompson, a former Scotland international, arrived from Burnley and has led the line well, ably supported by Nigel Hasselbaink, signed from Hamilton, former Wigan man Gary Teale and Paul McGowan, who made last year’s loan move from Celtic a permanent one. The defence has been fortified too, with Dutchmen Jeroen Tesselaar and