CALLUM BALL was surprised Gary Teale remembered who he was.

Now he hopes to give the St Mirren fans a season they will never forget.

The striker became Tommy Craig's latest summer signing last week after putting pen to paper on a one-year deal following a trial with the Buddies.

The move to Paisley sees Ball link up with former Derby team-mate Teale four years after the Saints coach left the Rams to join Sheffield Wednesday.

Five goals in two friendly fixtures against Blyth Spartans and Whitley Bay convinced Craig to take a chance on the 21-year-old.

And now he is eager to show what he can do as the countdown continues to the new Premiership campaign.

Ball said: "My agent got in touch with Gary, who I was at Derby with a few years ago. I was 15 or 16 at the time but he said he remembered me.

"So Gary gave me a call and I had a chat with him and he asked me up for a couple of training sessions and games to see how I got on.

"I did the sessions, played the games and scored a couple of goals so the club offered me a contract.

"Now I want to show people what I can do in Scotland and push St Mirren as high as I can in the league.

"You think that people would forget about you after a while but Gary remembered me and said he knew that I was a lad who worked hard.

"He wanted to see if I still had the bit between my teeth.

"I know what I have done so far isn't enough, I need to do it during the season now and pay them back for giving me the chance to play."

Ball will now compete with Steven Thompson, James Marwood and Ross Caldwell for a starting berth in the Buddies attack this term.

But he has already shown he knows where the goal is with his fine pre-season displays. The ex-Derby kid is delighted to be back on the goal trail after a barren spell saw his career stall despite loan spells at Coventry, Torquay and Notts County.

Ball said: "It is good to score goals and get some confidence.

"I was out injured for five months or so and didn't play so it was good to score.

"Hopefully I can do that now in the Premiership because I feel confident again.

"I damaged my ankle ligaments and was out for a long time. Before that, I didn't play much at Derby and had spells elsewhere. Now I am all fine and I am pushing hard for a starting place with St Mirren.

"My aim is to get in the team and score goals."

St Mirren will kick off their campaign away to Motherwell this weekend before the home crowd get their first chance to see Craig's side in action when Hamilton head to Paisley next Wednesday.

The Buddies were involved in a relegation fight for much of last term and Ball knows a fast start will be key to a successful season. He said: "It would be nice to finish high up the table but, even with some big teams out of the league, it is still the Premiership and I know it will be tough every week.

"It would be nice to get a good start, get some confidence in the team and a buzz around the changing room.

"Hopefully we can start with a win against Motherwell.

"If we can get a victory and then take something from the midweek game against Accies that would be a good start."