Marcus Fraser doesn’t mind seeing team-mate Scott Tanser leading the way at the top of the running charts.
That’s because the defender wants to see St Mirren racing out of the blocks this season to avoid another “embarrasing” early League Cup exit.
The Buddies were left red-faced last year when they were dumped out of the competition at the group stage after painful defeats to Arbroath and Airdrie.
The Saints have been pushing themselves to their limits during their pre-season camp in Northern Ireland, undertaking gruelling double sessions alongside fixtures against Glentoran and Saturday afternoon’s clash with Linfield.
Fraser believes all the hard work will pay off as he targets a much quicker start to their upcoming League Cup campaign, which kicks off in two weeks with a trip to Montrose.
Speaking exclusively to the Paisley Daily Express from Belfast, Fraser said: “The boys have come back from the break in great shape.
“The running stats have been brilliant which is what you want to see. Everyone has been working hard.
“Tanser has been top of the running charts so far. Mark O’Hara and Fraser Taylor are the two closest to catching him.
“We’ve got a super competitive squad. You don’t want anybody taking your jersey, so you know you’ve got to be right at the top of your game from the off.
“We want to keep the momentum going from last season straight into the League Cup. It was embarrasing for a club our size to get put out so early last season.
“We should be going on cup runs every year. We’ve got a squad and style capable of doing that and we’re determined to get to the latter stages of both cups this season.
“Our League Cup was so bad last season people were touting us for relegation. We responded well to that negativity to be fair, but we don’t want any negativity this year.
“We need to get the job done and cup runs are always a dream for teams like St Mirren.”
Having finished in the Premiership top six for the first time since the split was introduced last season, the challenge for the Buddies now is to repeat the feat.
Fraser, who is heading into his fourth season with the Saints, believes the key to achieving that target is to not forget the factors that led Stephen Robinson’s side to that impressive finish.
He said: “Our hope is to build on what we achieved last season.
“For me it’s important we don’t get away from what got us to that top six spot.
“Our team shape, our togetherness and our work rate got us into that position and it’s important we remember that going forward.
“The manager has stressed that he will try and get everyone that extra percent better this season.
“If we can do that and make the individuals better, that will also take the whole team up another level.”
With speculation surrounding the future of Saints boss Stephen Robinson rife towards the end of last season, Fraser was delighted to see the gaffer and his assistant Diarmuid O’Carroll sign new deals with the Saints and put that doubt to bed.
He added: “It was massive for the club to get Robbo and Derm tied down. Continuity is so important for any team.
“They’re doing extra work with the young boys as well to bring them up a level and it was brilliant news for everybody.
“Hopefully this season they can build on what they achieved last time around. I know how hard they’ll be working to improve us.”
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