Ryan Flynn has learned to cherish every minute he’s on the pitch for St Mirren.
While he’s not always been a first pick in Jim Goodwin’s starting XI, the Buddies midfielder insists he’s always been ready to pull on the stripes this season.
The former Sheffield United man has been delighted to start Saints last three games, as well as making substitute appearances in the previous two matches before that.
And the 33-year-old is now targeting racking up more game time after the international break as he continues to rediscover his rhythm in the middle of the park.
Speaking exclusively to Express Sport, Flynn said: “I’m always available, I have been all season and I’m just pleased to be playing more recently.
“I’ve started the last three games which has been great.
“It’s always frustrating when you’re not playing. You want to be in there and helping the team.
“I can only do my job when I’m asked to and I’ll be ready to go whenever that is. Thankfully I’ve been needed the last three games.
“I’ve loved playing every minute for this club and I have done since I’ve joined. Long may it continue.
“Starting three games on the bounce has been brilliant. It can be difficult when you’re coming in off the bench all the time.
Don't miss the latest headlines from around Renfrewshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
“It’s much easier when you’re playing consistently. It’s not fitness, because we’re all very fit. We’re all ready to be called upon.
“It’s more getting that sharpness back. It’s like a rhythm, you end up doing things by second nature.
“You know what you’re going to do before you even get the ball and you start to understand what your teammates are going to do better as well.
“Hopefully I’ll get more of a run in the team now over the rest of the season.
“I’d rather not have the international break just now, to be honest, but I’ll be ready for the Livingston game and hopefully I’ll be involved again.”
Flynn admits he was disappointed not to be heading into a free weekend on the back of a win at McDiarmid Park.
He believes the windy conditions did play a part in their drab draw with St Johnstone, but was pleased St Mirren picked up yet another point away from Paisley.
Flynn said: “We just couldn’t get the breakthrough. We dominated without creating enough clear-cut chances.
“I think we were the better team but we just didn’t make that count. We didn’t want to overplay it, with the pitch not being brilliant and the conditions pretty wild.
“It was really windy which made it unpredictable. There were times when the ball just sailed right out of play once the wind caught it.
“There was one where Joe Shaughnessy was going to chest it down and it just kept flying right over his head!”
“It was one of those games where you just didn’t want it to be decided by a mistake in the final third caused by the wind.
“Their keeper had a good save from Main early on, and another from a Tait header, but we never got a clear cut breakthrough.
“It’s always a hard place to come and to go into the international break on the back of a point away from home isn’t the worst thing in the world.”
Download the FREE Renfrewshire Live app now for all the latest news, features and sport: smarturl.it/RenfrewLiveSocial
