Ryan Strain insists he’s ready to make a name for himself with the Buddies after being “cut off” by his last club.
The attacking St Mirren full-back was hoping to impress in Israel last season after joining European competition regulars Maccabi Haifa.
And while he enjoyed the perfect start after moving there from Adelaide United after six years in Australia, injuries saw him sidelined halfway through the season.
While Maccabi Haifa went on to win the league and qualify for the Champions League, Strain was frustratingly left to watch on from the stands.
Now he’s determined not to be left on the side lines again in Paisley after linking up with the club this summer.
Strain told Sky Sports Scotland: “It’s a great opportunity for me, coming to Scotland. It’s a big league.
“Back in Israel it didn’t really go to plan for me.
“I had a few injuries, but the coaches here have given me a chance and now I just want to grab it with both hands and do the best I can for the club.
“I learned a lot over there. It was a different world, different culture and a different language. It was tough.
“It’s been good to come back and be able to communicate easily with the boys again. They’ve all been welcoming and I can’t wait to get started.
“It was a tough eight months there. When I played I did well, but it’s cut-throat over there.
“I had a few injuries and in January that was it, they cut me off and that was that.
“I need to get more match fitness, as I haven’t played much since January.
“But I’m feeling very good and I just can’t wait to get started now. We’re hoping to get into the top six and then push as high as we can.
“We’ve got a good group with new players in and hopefully we can bring it all together on the pitch.”
Strain already has brownie points with the Saints faithful thanks to his grandfather Gerry Baker, a prolific striker for the club who famously scored in their 3-1 Scottish Cup final win against Aberdeen in 1959.
The 25-year-old, who has been called up to the Australia national team in recent years but is yet to make his debut, revealed he heard plenty of stories about the Buddies from Baker growing up in England.
Strain said: “I heard a lot of stories about my grandad growing up. I was very aware of the link.
“He had a great career, going down to England as well, but he also had a great career here at St Mirren, scoring 60 goals in 80 games.
“When I was growing up he was always telling me about his playing days, how he scored in the Scottish Cup final. He had a lot of good memories about St Mirren.
“When I heard about the chance to come to St Mirren, that had a big impact on it.
“My family were buzzing, especially my mum’s side as that was her dad.
“They can’t wait to see me in the shirt.”
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