YOU don’t need 2020 vision to see the toll that this year has taken on people, businesses and communities across the country.

Jak Alnwick views himself as one of the lucky ones. Life has been different, of course, but the keeper can reflect on a positive first half of the campaign and look forward to the coming months that offer silver linings in the dark clouds.

St Mirren have been one of the success stories so far this term. Jim Goodwin’s side may have rounded off the year with a defeat to Rangers, but victory over those same opponents has earned them a Betfred Cup semi-final berth.

And as they look ahead to the trip to Kilmarnock to begin 2021, they do so from seventh position in the Premiership. It is the fight for the top six rather than the battle against relegation they should be focusing on now.

That is certainly the ambition for Alnwick and he is determined to raise the spirits of the Paisley punters as they hope for better times on and off the park in the New Year.

“Before Wednesday we were second in the form table,” Alnwick said. “Before the Hibs defeat we were 11 unbeaten.

“Our aim is top six. I don’t see the point in being a team in this division just thinking about survival.

“At the end of the day, we are playing well but we need to keep it up. We have got competition for places, which I think is a big thing.

“Hopefully we can keep hold of all our players in January and kick on to get that sixth spot and some silverware as well.

“For everyone, 2020 has been a difficult year. There is no getting away from that.

“But we are privileged to have our jobs. There are people who have lost jobs and lost family members. For us to come out and play football every day is a privilege.

“We look forward to coming into training every day and look forward to playing in games. Hopefully in 2021 we can get fans back when it is safe to do so.

“For the club, we are in the semi-final of a major competition and in a good position to kick on in the league.

“We are not going to look behind us and think we have done brilliantly up to now. There is no good doing that and then not winning a game from now to the end of the season. We have to kick on and hopefully we can.”

The squad that Goodwin assembled in the summer always had the look of one which could challenge in mid table rather than be embroiled at the bottom.

It took time for that theory to come to fruition but a trip to Pittodrie in October has acted as the catalyst for an encouraging and impressive run.

“We went up to Aberdeen and ended up not even getting a point from a game we should have won,” Alnwick said. “From then, I think we just decided we were going to go and press teams and be aggressive.

“The lads in midfield have been excellent and we have a settled back four. It’s no coincidence that with our best XI on the pitch – take away Covid and take away injuries – we have looked a good side.

“We have been on such a good run. A lot of things have gone against us this season but we have stuck together and I think it shows on the pitch.

“We can only control what we can control. Regardless of what goes on outside the pitch with the pandemic, we just have to play football.

“Obviously, though, there have been things that have kicked us down a little bit. We ended up in the relegation spot at one point.

“But the gaffer has signed lads who have been captains. All the lads at the back have captained teams at some time. Those characters take you a long way in football.”