STEVIE THOMPSON reckons he can keep his SPL hot streak going for St Mirren when action resumes despite the league going into cold storage for a couple of weeks.

The evergreen 34-year-old has scored four goals in his last four games as the Paisley men put together an unbeaten four- game run over the festive period that saw them take eight points from a possible 12.

While many in Paisley may feel the winter break is coming at the worst possible time, the talismanic Thommo says it will be ideal to recharge the batteries.

While the former Ranger continues to show an appetite for hard work that puts many younger players to shame, Thommo has no doubt that the three weeks off can help him maintain his current form.

The Buddies striker said: "I think the break is a good thing. If you look at the weather when we played Kilmarnock on January 2 it was horrific.

"Although both sides tried to play the passing game – and I thought the match was a terrific advert for the SPL – it might have been even better without the driving wind and rain.

"On top of that each side has just played four games in 12 games and that is very demanding on heavy pitches at this time of the year.

"So the break is a good thing and hopefully it will mean that everyone will come back that bit fresher and there will be a positive knock-on.

"Okay, you could say that it has come at the worst possible time for us but there are no complaints from the lads.

"We have a lot of big games to come back to including a League Cup semi-final with Celtic at the end of the month and you want to be in the best possible shape to produce your A game for that one.

"The break will help in that regard."

Saints will face two huge SPL games with the two sides beneath them, Ross County and Dundee, before they face the Hoops at Hampden and Thommo is confident that the competition for semi-final jerseys will ensure that the Buddies produce their best in both outings.

He said: "Obviously every one of the lads wants to play against Celtic at Hampden and that is going to be a huge positive for the two SPL games before that against Ross County and Dundee.

"The target has got to be to keep our unbeaten run going through these two games so that we can go to Hampden with our confidence high.

"With all of the lads desperate to make sure they play in the semi we are only going to benefit.

"But it has been a massive plus for us to come through the festive period unbeaten and great that we have put the bad run we were on in November to bed and come back so strongly."

While his own outstanding form continues to defy his advancing years, Thommo believes that the return to winning ways at St Mirren Park has been as a result of the collective effort.

He said: "I think a lot of it has been down to hard work. But also we were just not getting the breaks when we were on that losing run.

"For example if you look at the deflected goal we lost at Hearts when we were starting to get on top of them, then that sums it up.

"But we have shown a lot of character to come back so strongly and now we are very handily placed in the SPL and have a League Cup semi-final to look forward to.

"So when we come back it is all to play for."