Queen of the South boss Marvin Bartley has praised striker Gavin Reilly’s professionalism.
The Palmerston gaffer spoke about the front man’s experience being a big part of the South dressing room for the season ahead.
The former Hearts and St Mirren player has scored already this preseason and is “incredibly sharp” according to Bartley.
Reilly, 30, spoke last week about his determination to prove doubters wrong this term after being sent out on loan for the second half of last season.
Asked if Reilly wanted to make a point this season Bartley replied: “Everyone is here to prove a point. So am I.
“People are going to doubt you no matter what you do but all I asked of Gavin was to come back for pre-season fit and he’s done that.
“He’s a leader in the dressing room because of the experience that he does have, I know the level he can and will get to.
“I’ll be honest, in pre-season he’s looked incredibly sharp and it’s about continuing that.
“I was up front with everyone who went on loan when I came in and the reasons behind it. He doesn’t need a wake up call because he’s a good professional, I just think he knew he needed minutes and with Ruari Paton in the form he was in he wasn’t going to get them here so it was important for him to get them and come back here in preseason flying.”
Irishman Paton sealed his moved to Queen’s Park at the end of June after being top scorer for the club last term.
The manager played down talk of anyone playing up front next season having big boots to fill to match his goal scoring numbers.
He said: “It’s not about one individual, it’s about the team and the team winning games.
“Ruari didn’t win games by himself. Did he contribute to them? 100 per cent. That’s one thing I said to him when I came into the club is that he’d have less touches but more chances and that’s the same for any striker that plays. It’s about putting the chances in the back of the net. We have a game plan and it’s about sticking to that.
