David Clarkson is eager to kick-start St Mirren’s clamber up the Scottish Championship table after signing a loan deal with the Paisley club from Motherwell until the end of the season.

The Saints, who are currently languishing down in eighth place in the division after a turbulent campaign, face bottom-of-the-table Alloa Athletic at the weekend and the well-travelled Clarkson is keen to get started with his new club.

“I’m ready, I’ve been fit all season and I’m as fit as I’ve ever been,” Clarkson told St Mirren radio. “I’ve been playing games, playing for the 20s and I like to keep my match fitness up. I’ve been training hard and making sure that when my time came, wherever it may be, that I was ready and match fit and hopefully up to speed with everyone else really.

“I’m looking forward to getting started. Obviously the game on Saturday, every game is a big game, and the more games we can win the more confidence we can get from that we can hopefully go on a run of games and push up the table and try to get the club back to where it has been.”

Clarkson started his career with Motherwell and made over 200 appearances for the Fir Park club before moving south for spells with both Bristol City and Bristol Rovers.

The former Scotland internationalist returned to his homeland at the beginning of last season when he signed for Dundee before moving back to Motherwell in the summer.