Stephen Robinson admits he doesn’t have the luxury of time on Alex Iacovitti’s return as he prepares to fast-track the St Mirren defender back into action.

The Buddies are without the suspended Alex Gogic for Saturday’s game with St Johnstone and Charles Dunne is out due to a hamstring injury.

Iacovitti has not played since August 31 but has now recovered from a hamstring tendon injury and could provide the “leadership and aggression” Robinson is seeking after St Mirren conceded costly set-piece goals two weeks in a row.

“Alex is very close to full fitness. We haven’t had the luxury of getting a game into him. He was on the bench last week, but sometimes needs must, and he’s a very professional boy, and he provides that for us,” said the Buddies boss.

“He might have to be thrown in long before he’s firing on all cylinders, with our injury situations and suspensions.

“Alex gives you that aggression and leadership. A real organiser, a guy who doesn’t want goals to go in the back of the net.

“Sometimes you get modern defenders who are more interested on the ball, but he’s a wee bit old-school, which we like. You need variation. We feel when he’s fully fit, he’ll provide that.

“We’ve lost two games now where we should have had points from last-minute goals and last-minute set plays.

“You can do all the work in the world, but you have to have people that want to go and head the ball and dominate and do the dirty bits of football to gain them points, and we have to be better at that.

“Alex Iacovitti can give us that when he’s fully fit. We believe he can go and dominate that six-yard box, Mika Mandron when he’s on the pitch as well.”