ST MIRREN midfield star Kenny McLean has suffered a broken collarbone and will be sidelined for up to six weeks.

SportTimes understands the injury was sustained in training yesterday and McLean will now be out until March.

The 20-year-old has nailed down a starting place in Danny Lennon’s side after making the top-team breakthrough last term and has been linked with a January move to Premiership side Wolves and Championship outfit Burnley.

McLean said: “It was just an accidental collision with one of the young players. The physio took me to hospital and the X-ray showed I had a broken collarbone. These things happen and you just need to get on with it.

“I can’t do anything for a week or two until the sling comes off, then we will see if I can do some jogging. But hopefully I will be back soon enough.”

Meanwhile, Lennon today praised club captain Jim Goodwin’s show of loyalty after he agreed to pen a new two-year deal – despite being offered more money by Hibs.

The Buddies boss also vowed to build a team around the Republic of Ireland international that will achieve a top-six SPL slot and then go from strength to strength.

Lennon has no doubt Goodwin’s allegiance to the Paisley club will send a message out to his team-mates about the extent of the Buddies’ ambitions.

And the Saints gaffer believes he has secured the services of a player, who even at 30, still has his best years ahead.

Lennon said: “It is a testament to Jim that he has decided to stay with us. We have a great environment at this club and Jim has played a big part in creating that.

“I made him captain in the summer for a good few reasons and part of that, as well as the fact he is a fine footballer, was his outstanding personal qualities.

“His decision to stay has underlined what I already knew about Jim. We have already begun to build a team around him and others and now we can continue that.”

Lennon added: “We can’t comment on what other clubs may or may not have offered Jim. All we can do is make the best possible offer to keep him here. Thankfully, that was acceptable to him.”

Hibs manager Pat Fenlon met with Goodwin in Edinburgh on Wednesday where he tabled an offer above that presented by the Buddies.

But he delighted the Paisley faithful by signing on for another two seasons.

The Saints skipper, who will miss the trip to Inverness tomorrow with a calf strain, said: “The key factor in me staying is the fact we are building something here and I really feel part of that.

“My relationship with the manager and his assistant Tommy Craig is rock solid. We have a great set-up at St Mirren and I love coming into work every day and that means a lot.”

Looking forward to the trip to the Highlands, Lennon said: “We set ourselves standards against Celtic last week and if we want to take anything from Inverness they must be retained.”