CROCKED St Mirren striker Steven Thompson is hoping he will be given the all-clear to start the Premiership season.

The Buddies veteran has been sidelined for the past couple of weeks with a groin injury and has missed out on five games as Tommy Craig hones his squad's fitness and sharpness ahead of the new campaign.

The new Saints boss saw his team hammer 10 past English minnows Whitley Bay on Monday and now has just Friday's clash with Carlisle to cast his eye over the players before their top-flight opener away to Motherwell on August 9.

Thompson has yet to feature in any matches this summer but the 35- year-old forward is eager to be fighting fit for the big kick-off.

The former Scotland striker said: "It is two weeks since I picked up the injury and I have been doing plenty of rehab.

"I am hoping to get the groin scanned in the next few days to check everything is OK so that I can push on again.

"I hope I am fit to play against Well, but I can't see into the next 10 days.

"Once I can step things up at training it will be a question of seeing how the groin reacts. I don't think I will be far away."

The new Saints captain admits it has been frustrating to miss out on the club's games this summer but is confident it won't take him long to get up to speed for the new term.

He said: "I managed to do all the running in our pre-season training. I did the intensive work in the first two weeks so that is one positive thing for me. I was glad to get that in because you don't want to be catching up.

"I'm disappointed that I've been missing out on the games. That is where you get match fitness and sharpness but hopefully I can use my experience to get round that."

While Thompson has been on the road to recovery his team-mates have hit the goal trail.

The Buddies have won all their friendly outings against Albion Rovers, Morton, Cowdenbeath, Blyth Spartans and Whitley Bay, netting 20 times in those five games.

Craig is now keen to do a deal to bring in former Derby striker Callum Ball after he hit four goals on Monday to take his tally to five in two games.

It has been a successful summer so far for the Saints in terms of results but Thompson knows they'll face their sternest test against Carlisle at Brunton Park.

He said: "We are not looking too much into the results just now. We have won all of our pre-season matches and that can only be good for the boys' morale.

"It was obviously great for our confidence to score ten but, with all due to respect to Whitley Bay, it wasn't against the toughest of opponents.

"We will get a tougher test on Friday when we play Carlisle. All that matters, though, is that we are ready for the trip to Motherwell."