JON ROBERTSON is facing a race against the crock to make it back in time for the start of St Mirren's pre-season.

The 24-year-old suffered a serious knee injury in the penultimate SPL game of the season against Aberdeen.

Despite suffering no pain in the draw with the Dons, the reaction came 24 hours later and Robertson, whose first season in Paisley also had him farmed out for a loan spell with former club Cowdenbeath, admits he is desperate to be fit for the new campaign's preparations after the injury was revealed to be a tear to his lateral miniscus.

It was the worst possible end to a season the midfielder felt he did not do himself justice in, and has only served to make him even more determined to make an impact next time around.

With St Mirren manager Danny Lennon having already started a clear out that could result in as many as 13 players moving on, Robertson is keen his second-season syndrome will be positive.

He said: "My first season with the club was frustrating, but to pick up the injury right at the end of it, as I did, was just about the worst thing that could have happened.

"I felt nothing during the game against Aberdeen but the day after was a different story.

"But although there is a tear it is a very slight one, and I am well on the road to recovery and pretty hopeful I will make it for the start of pre-season.

"The last thing I need is to miss out on any of the preparatory work and find myself chasing things.

"But although there was a bit of fluid on the knee, we have got that under control and, as I said, I am on schedule to hopefully make it."

Robertson believes part of his problem during his debut campaign in the black and white stripes was he just put too much pressure on himself.

The Buddies star said: "When I came to the club last season the manager told me my first term with St Mirren in the SPL would be a massive learning curve.

"But I got off to a pretty good start in coming on in the opener against Inverness Caley and then starting the second game at Dundee. Perhaps I just set my sights too high.

"After that I was in and out of things until around Christmas, but I had a really good run in the team over the festive period.

"When we came back from the winter break we lost 4-1 to Ross County when I was in the team and then the next thing I knew I was out on loan at Cowdenbeath. Although it took me by surprise, I can see what the gaffer was trying to do. I got plenty of game time as part of the starting XI and I got back to doing what I do best and that is being a box-to-box midfielder.

"I returned to St Mirren, and I thought I did a decent job against Aberdeen before I picked up the injury. ."

Robertson added: "The club is going through a lot of change with an awful lot of players moving on.

"I think the experiences of last season will help me make my mark when the new campaign eventually arrives, starting with pre-season.

"I guess the gaffer was right when he told me last summer that the most important thing for me was to make sure I learned from everything that came my way."