DAVID CLARKSON has paid tribute to St Mirren for looking after him as he works through his injury hell.

The striker is not even half way through his rehabilitation following a horror anterior cruciate ligament blow suffered in training back in February, an incident that could see him out for up to a year.

It was a worrying time for the 31-year-old, whose contract with the relegation-threatened Saints was due to expire in the summer.

However, the former Motherwell and Scotland forward is grateful to the support given to him by boss Jack Ross, chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick and the rest of the St Mirren board as he remains very much part of the Buddies family.

"The club have looked after me," said Clarkson. "I'm potentially going to do some work behind the scenes and watch opponents games to do some reporting and stuff. I've done my A Licence so that ties in with that.

"The club have been brilliant and I spoke to Tony and the chairman to thank them.

"It wasn't ideal with my contract being up. It was a worrying time for me but thankfully the club have looked after me.

"I want to help out as much as I can. I would love to be playing but as long as I'm here I will try and help out with anything I am asked to do.

"I feel good. I'm doing a lot more functional stuff now so it's a step forward for me and I'm progressing nicely really.

"The time given was 9-12 months so that's what I'm aiming for. Hopefully everything goes to plan."

The need to keep Clarkson at the club through a moral sense of duty was something Ross has previously spoken about. However, Clarkson is not content to hang around the Paisley 2021 Stadium without making a key contribution.

While Andy Webster has performed coaching duties with the club's Under-20s, his old team-mate is keen to lend a hand if required.

He said: "I do some work with the Motherwell U15s just now and I think that's the road I want to go down.

"I'd love to do some work with the U20s here if that came about. I'd love to try and pass on some experience and tips."

Turning his attention back to the season ahead for St Mirren, Clarkson is hopeful the Buddies can make a prosperous start in their Championship challenge on the back of their great escape last term.

He told Stmirren.com: "You could always see the change in the team and the confidence there.

"I think it shows the character there to get out of the situation we were in last season. I was at the last game of the season and it was nerve-wracking.

"The core and the structure are there to go and hopefully build on that. It's a club that should be in the Premiership.

"I'm sure the boys will knuckle down and try to get a good start and see where we go from there."