St Mirren manager Alex Rae has hailed the signing of defender Gary MacKenzie as a massive coup for the Buddies.

MacKenzie, who started his career at Rangers before moving to Dundee, has had spells down south at MK Dons, Blackpool, Doncaster and Notts County. He has also been named in the Scotland squad.

With such an impressive pedigree, Rae admits that he feels fortunate to have secured the services of a player he has worked with before at Dens Park and Bloomfield Road.

“It was just an opportunity really that presented itself,” Rae said.

“I knew Gary was looking to get back up the road and he’s a good addition for us. He’s experienced, he brings physicality and I worked with him a couple of years ago at Blackpool in the Championship – we have a quality player on our hands here.

“You want to have a physicality throughout your team but he’s also a very good footballer. I know what he can bring to the table, it’s not just physicality we’re getting a good all round footballer.

“It’s been a tough summer but I’m pleased to get Gary on board.”

The signing of MacKenzie has been a bright spot in a frustrating recruitment campaign for Rae over the close season, and the Buddies boss is clear that there are still areas of his squad that need reinforcing.

“There was another player I was chasing for weeks but unfortunately that’s not come to fruition as he’s chosen to do something else now,” said Rae.

“We go back to the drawing board and we have a couple of irons in the fire so we will pursue them now.

“We need strikers – we’re looking at strikers and we’re also trying to get a winger in who can inject a bit more pace into the squad. I know some people will look at us signing another centre-half but the quality Gary brings us along with the price range, we were fortunate that he signed for what he did. We’re getting there slowly but surely, it’s a process.”

MacKenzie himself is hoping that a move back closer to home can allow him to get back to somewhere near his best form after suffering a dip in his performances of late.

“I’ve been in England for six years and I had moved the family back up to Scotland three years ago but it hasn’t been ideal,” he said.

“When I spoke to Alex he told me there was a possibility that I could come here, get back to playing and enjoying my football and going home to my family it was very appealing.

“I obviously respect Alex and I’ve worked under him before – he’s a good coach. He spoke very well about the club and what he’s trying to build here and what he seems to be building is very exciting.

“I’ve got a lot of experience and I’ve played at quite a high level. I played 50 games in the English Championship and did well enough to be called into the Scotland squad.

“I’m fully committed in everything I do and hopefully with me coming back here to my family then the football takes care of itself and you should actually see a better me than I have been in the last few years.”