The 2019/20 Ladbrokes Premiership season gets underway tomorrow afternoon with St Mirren heading through to the capital to face Hibernian. 

FORM

The Buddies come into tomorrow's match on the back of a disappointed Betfred Cup campaign. 

Saints were beaten 3-2 by Dunfermline Athletic in their opening Betfred Cup match, but defeated Edinburgh City 1-0 thanks to Oan Djorkaeff's late penalty kick. That was followed up with 0-0 draws away to East Kilbride and Albion Rovers which saw the Buddies finish third in Group H on six points. 

Hibernian topped their group after winning three of their four matches. Paul Heckingbottom's side opened the group with a 1-1 draw away to League Two side Stirling Albion. The quickly brushed off that result with wins over Alloa (2-0), Arbroath (3-0) and Elgin City (2-0) to finish top of their group and secure a last 16 tie with Morton. 

St Mirren preserved their Premiership status last season with a dramatic play-off final penalty shoot-out win against Dundee United. The Buddies ended the season with just one loss from their final 10 matches.

After a difficult few months for Hibs, Neil Lennon left the Easter Road side as manager to be replaced by Heckingbottom. The Hibees' form picked up and saw an eventual fifth place finish.

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Saints are unbeaten on our last two trips to Easter Road.

Adam Hammill and Paul McGinn scored as we drew 2-2 on our only trip to Hibs last season, while there was the final day 1-1 draw in the 2016/17 season that saw Saints preserve their Ladbrokes Championship status.

The Buddies have come up against the Hibees once in 2019. Simeon Jackson opened the scoring for Saints, but goals from Oli Shaw and ex-Saints Darren McGregor & Stevie Mallan gave the Leith side a 3-1 win.

Saints' last win at Easter Road came in a 2016 IRN-BRU Cup tie. The Buddies came from behind to knock Hibs out of the Challenge Cup thanks to goals from Stevie Mallan and David Clarkson.

Our last league win away to Hibs was in January 2014 when a Ben Williams own-goal and strikes from Adam Campbell & Steven Thompson gave us a 3-2 win in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

TEAM NEWS

Saints were dealt a blow with the news that Cody Cooke looks set to be out for up to 6-9 months after picking up a knee injury. Jim Kellermann will also miss out with a shoulder injury.

Gary MacKenzie could return for Saints after missing our Betfred Cup matches against East Kilbride and Albion Rovers. 

International clearance has been received for Ilkay Durmus, Sam Foley, Sean McLoughlin and Jonathan Obika so all four new signings could make their debuts tomorrow.

St Mirren Football Club can confirm the squad numbers designated to each player for the upcoming Ladbrokes Premiership campaign.

As the squad stands at present the numbers are as follows:

1 - Vaclav Hladky
2 - Paul McGinn
4 - Stephen McGinn (c)
5 - Sean McLoughlin
6 - Gary MacKenzie
7 - Kyle Magennis
8 - Ryan Flynn
9 - Jonathan Obika
10 - Tony Andreu
11 - Ilkay Durmus
15 - Jack Baird
16 - Sam Foley
17 - James Kellermann
18 - Danny Mullen
20 - Cody Cooke
23 - Oan Djorkaeff
24 - Cameron MacPherson
25 - Ethan Erhahon
26 - Dean Lyness

St Mirren Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Jonathan Obika on a two-year deal subject to international clearance.

The English forward joins Jim Goodwin's side following the expiry of his contract at Oxford United.

Jonathan, who began his career at Tottenham Hotspur and has had spells with Yeovil Town, Millwall, Crystal Palace, Peterborough United, Swindon Town, Charlton Athletic, Brighton & Hove Albion and Oxford, becomes the Buddies seventh summer signing. 

Speaking on completing his move, Obika said: "I got a call from the gaffer and he told me about the club and the ambition for the season and it felt like a good fit for me.

"The Scottish Premiership draws a lot of attention and I have a few friends that have played in Scotland and they've said I have to experience it.

"I'm powerful, I want to bring goals, pace, I'm someone who will work hard always and I like to play with a smile on my face. I'm looking forward to putting myself out there."

Buddievision subscribers can watch an interview with Jonathan here. Season ticket holders can get a 30% discount on an annual Buddievision subscription. Click here to find out more.

St Mirren Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Sean McLoughlin on loan until January subject to international clearance. 

The Irish centre-half joins the Buddies on the temporary deal from English Championship side Hull City. 

McLoughlin, 22, completed his move to Hull last week - signing for Grant McCann's side from League of Ireland side Cork City and now becomes Saints' sixth signing of the summer window. 

Capped at U21 level for the Republic of Ireland, McLoughlin told stmirren.com he's delighted to have joined up with the side and can't wait to start.

It came about a couple of days ago and I'm really excited to get up here," he said.

"I've still got a lot to learn but I'm looking forward to the challenge and looking forward to bettering myself and helping the team. 

"I know the Scottish league is a tough, challenging league.

"There's some massive teams, some massive games and a huge fanbase up here so it's definitely a great place to be and I'm really looking forward to it."

Speaking to the press yesterday, Saints manager Jim Goodwin said: "Sean is one that we knew about.

Gus [MacPherson] had watched him last season and I have contacts back in Ireland as well that we got really solid references from.

"We watched a lot of footage of him and he's tipped for big things so we are delighted to have him in the squad."

Tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 3rd August) St Mirren make the trip to Edinburgh for a Ladbrokes Premiership match-up with Hibernian at Easter Road Stadium.

The info on Travel Clubs heading to the Easter Road Stadium for the match is as follows:

Tile Bar Supporters Bus

The bus to Easter Road will leave Abercorn Street at 12:30pm.

All members' seats from last year will be kept for this game.

The Tile Bar bus is now sold out.

Chivas Travel Club

The bus for the match at Easter Road will leave the Court Bar at 1:00pm.

Anyone wishing to join the travel club should contact the Court Bar for details.

This bus is sold out.

North End Travel Club

The bus for the Hibs game will leave the Sneddon at 1:00pm.

Bus seat tickets are available in The Brewer's Tap, £7 each.

Cockles Wilson Supporters Bus

If you would like to travel on the bus please contact Fraser Burns on Facebook or twitter.

* The under 12 ticket is only available from the St Mirren Ticket Office up till 2:00pm on Friday 2nd August. It will not be available at Easter Road on the day of the match.

Tickets for this match are now on sale from the St Mirren Ticket Office.

Tickets will also be on sale on the day of the game from the ticket pod located at the South Stand at Easter Road which will be open from 1:00pm with cash and card options.

St Mirren Ticket Office Phone No: (0141) 840-6130.
St Mirren Ticket Office E-Mail: tickets@stmirren.com.

Additional Information for Travelling Fans
On Saturday (3rd August), St Mirren make the trip to the capital to face Hibernian in a Ladbrokes Premiership match-up at Easter Road Stadium.

The referee on Saturday is Euan Anderson and he will be assisted by Graeme Stewart and Craig Ferguson. The Fourth Official will be Steven Kirkland.

The SPFL has confirmed this morning that due to Aberdeen progressing to the third qualifying round of the Europa League that St Mirren's home Premiership match against the Dons on 10th August has now been put back till Sunday 11th August.

The game at the Simple Digital Arena will still kick-off at 3:00pm.

The full rescheduled match details are:

Sunday 11th August 2019
Ladbrokes Premiership
St Mirren v Aberdeen
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Simple Digital Arena

The St Mirren Ticket Office will be open tonight (Thursday 1st August) between 5pm-7pm for fans wishing to purchase tickets for Saturday's match away to Hibernian.

Hibernian have confirmed that they will have a ticket pod located at the South Stand on Saturday which will be open from 1pm with cash and card options for Saints fans.

Prices will be £23 for adults and £14 for concessions (Over 65, Student, under 18). The £12 under 12 ticket will not be available at the pod.

Any tickets purchased from the St Mirren ticket office must be picked up by 2pm on Friday 2nd August.

St Mirren Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Sam Foley on a two-year deal subject to international clearance.

The 32-year-old midfielder joins St Mirren on a free transfer having departed English League Two side Northampton Town at the end of last season.

Sam becomes the Buddies' fifth signing of the summer following the signatures of Dean Lyness, Tony Andreu, Oan Djorkaeff and Ilkay Durmus.

Speaking on his signing, Jim Goodwin said: "Sam is a good, experienced, central midfielder.

"He can play on the left and the right of midfield but I’m bringing him in to be a central midfielder.

"He gives us a bit of aggression, a bit of experience, has good energy & fitness levels and is a very tidy footballer.

"We can’t have enough of those types of players. You need good, honest, experienced professionals who are going to bring out the best in the younger kids."

St Mirren Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Ilkay Durmus on a two year-deal from Austrian side FC Wacker Innsbruck subject to international clearance.

Born in Germany, Ilkay had spells as a youth player at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and VfB Stuttgart before moving to Turkey to sign for Gençlerbirligi in 2012.

The wide midfielder, capped by Turkey up to U20 level, has also had spells at Antalyaspor, Floridsdorfer AC, SC Austria Lustenau and SV Ried.

Speaking to stmirren.com after taking part in his first training session, Ilkay said: "I’m happy to be here. I spoke to the manager and he told me about St Mirren and it was very positive.

"I looked at videos of St Mirren from last season and it looked good so I wanted to come here."

St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin said: "I’m delighted to have Ilkay in.

When I done my assessment on the team in my first couple of weeks I felt that we lacked a little bit of pace throughout the team. Ilkay gives us that in abundance.

"He is a very attack-minded, old-fashioned winger and players like that excite me and I think he’ll excite supporters as well.

"He’s direct, he’s positive, he puts a great ball in so he’s one to be very excited about.

"He’s a couple of weeks behind with regards to pre-season training but we’ll get him up to speed and I think he’s one that the fans will certainly get off their seats to watch.

"There’s been a lot hard work going on behind the scenes. I know people have wanted things to happen quicker and I’m the same. Tony [Fitzpatrick] wants things to happen quicker, Gus [MacPherson] wants things to happen quicker. Tony and Gus in particular are working very hard and I can't stress enough how good Tony and Gus have been for me in my first month in the job. 

"I've given them a long list and a list of players that may be sometimes is a little ambitious. But at the end of the day I want to bring in good players and I want to bring in players that will excite the fans and I want to make us more than competitive. 

"We’re doing all we can and we are making some very good offers to some very good players. I think the players we have already added have enhanced the group and I think the ones that we have identified will make us better again."