ST MIRREN boss Danny Lennon is still hoping to add a striker to his squad before the weekend.

The departure of Sam Parkin and Lewis Guy over the summer has left Lennon with just Steven Thompson as his main centre-forward, with back-up provided by 18-year-old Thomas Reilly.

Saints are still waiting for Newcastle United to sanction a loan move for England Under-19 forward Adam Campbell and have also started negotiations with another unnamed striker in the Thompson mould who they believe would be capable of operating as a lone frontman.

Lennon said: "We are still actively looking and there are names we have in mind. Sometimes the timing of these deals is outwith your control, but we're still working very hard to make things happen.

"I wouldn't say it has been frustrating as I'm a big believer that if you don't have a player for whatever reason then you focus on the tools you have at your disposal."

Campbell is thought to be keen to come to St Mirren on loan, where he would join up again with Newcastle team-mate Conor Newton, who is back in Paisley for a second stint, but Newcastle are leaning towards sending him out to another English club, with Birmingham City, MK Dons and Carlisle United all said to be interested in the player.

In England, players can go out on loan on a month-to-month basis, unlike in Scotland where deals can only be done from window to window. Newcastle are thought to prefer the option of recalling the player at short notice but St Mirren have not given up hope.

Lennon added: "While Adam's still at Newcastle, there's still a possibility of him going out on loan.

"But I think it's disrespectful to speak too much about Adam while he's still a Newcastle player. Until Newcastle are 100% sure about what's best for them and the player we don't have a say in the matter."

St Mirren were without a league game last weekend as Celtic took on Liverpool in a friendly in Dublin.

Lennon used the free time to spy on Queen of the South, who Saints play in the first round of the League Cup, and Kilmarnock, their next opponents in the league.

He added: "It was great to go and watch teams we've got coming up.

"I went to the Queen of the South game on Saturday and was very impressed by them. They had great energy about them.

"Allan Johnston did a terrific job at Queens last year when they won the Ramsdens Cup and the league, and now Jim McIntyre has backed that up by putting his own stamp on the team.

"They've got great energy from middle to front and they support the ball very quickly. That is something we must match on the day.

"Then on Sunday I took in Kilmarnock versus St Johnstone.

"I know Killie are actively looking to sign one or two more, and have brought in a right-back (Sean Clohessy) that didn't play at the weekend so they could have one or two changes by the time we play them at the weekend.

"It's all about what we do on the day, but it's good to go to these games to look at other teams' strengths and weaknesses."