Striker Eamonn Brophy believes there’s no reason St Mirren can’t become top six regulars.
The confident forward was an integral part of Steve Clarke’s impressive Kilmarnock squad that finished fifth and then third in the Premiership table in 2018 and 2019.
With similar size clubs like St Johnstone and Livingston also regularly featuring in the top half of the table in recent seasons, 25-year-old Brophy is certain the Buddies can improve on their seventh place finish this year and break into the top six for the first time in more than three decades.
Speaking exclusively to Express Sport, he said: “When you see teams like Livingston and St Johnstone in the top six, it shows it’s possible for St Mirren.
“I did it with Kilmarnock as well for a few years in a row as well.
“We had a good experienced squad at Killie, but I look around our dressing room and we can certainly match what I did at Rugby Park. I have no doubt in my mind about that.
“What’s surprised me most coming in here is the quality of the squad. There’s a lot of young, hungry players who want to do everything they can for the team.
“They want to go and push on to that next level, which is only a good thing for the club.
“The quality in the dressing room is incredible. When boys have to step out, the ones coming in are still at a really high level.
“If we can add a few new players in as well over the summer we’ll have a right good squad and that’s something I’m excited about.”
Having joined the Buddies in January, Brophy is yet to meet the club’s supporters at the SMISA Stadium or on the road.
With fans expected to make a return in reduced numbers when the League Cup kicks off in July, the forward is looking forward to feeling the atmosphere build ahead of kick-off once again.
He said: “Every player has missed the fans this season. It’s been difficult without them, no doubt about it.
"It’s just not the same. Even in the warm ups, you feel the atmosphere building in the stadiums with the fans. Without them it’s so flat.
“You have try to motivate yourself in different ways. That can be tough at times, but we’re all professionals so we’ve got on with it as best we could.
“It’s been a frustrating season but as a club we have to appreciate how far the club has come and how well the gaffer has done in difficult circumstances.
“The club has been taken forward a long way in the last four years, it’s been an unbelievable rise.”
Brophy is also looking forward to covid restrictions easing so he can meet up with his new teammates outside of the dressing room.
He added: “The boys have been brilliant with me since I came in.
"It has been more difficult with covid and all the guidelines, but hopefully that will ease over the next few months and we can socialise a bit more.”
