Striker Gavin Reilly has unfinished business in the Premiership, and he reckons that St Mirren will give him the platform to prove he can cut it in the top flight by getting back to where they belong.

The Buddies have started the season in tremendous form, winning four of their five games so far to shoot to the top of the Championship table.

The win over Inverness on Saturday built upon their triumph over title favourites Dundee United in their previous match, and while it is early days, Reilly says their start has everyone at the club believing they can earn promotion.

“Our aim at the start of the season was to win the league outright, if not then definitely through the play-offs,” said Reilly.

“I think with the group we have that we’re more than capable of doing it. At the same time, we’re only five games into the league season. It’s a good start to make and we’ll keep building on that.

“I would love to get back to playing in the Premiership again and that’s where a club of this size should be. We have to keep going the way we’re going and hopefully we’ll be there at the end of the season.

“It’s been a very good start. I think we’ve just built game to game. The first game against Falkirk was a tremendous victory – especially given it was the opener.

“Morton brought us down to earth but we’ve kicked on from there. We had a very difficult start, so it’s been brilliant to get the points that we have.

“There are no easy games in this league. Everyone’s capable of beating everyone. But it’s good to lay down a marker early on.”

Reilly, who was speaking as he collected his 'Goldenballs' award for his performance in Round 2 of the Irn-Bru Cup, says that his own fine start to the season - he has scored eight goals in 11 matches - is down to getting a consistent run of games.

“People say goals in the cup don’t count but for me they do,” he said. If you get 20 goals at the end of the season no-one is going to look back and break it down by the competitions. It’s the tally that counts.

"I’ve just been glad to get back playing football and the goals have been a bonus. Any striker will say that you need a consistent run of games to get the best out of you.

“Credit to the gaffer for giving me the chance to come in and show what I’m capable of doing. I’m just glad I’ve done well so far and long may it continue.”

The Saints face a tough test on Saturday as they bid to keep the feel-good factor around Paisley going, with a trip to face second-placed Dunfermline.

Reilly needs no extra motivation for the game having gone through a nightmare spell at East End park last season.

“We’re all looking forward to it,” he said.

“It’ll be good to go there and hopefully prove a point, as long as we win the game. I’d be happy with that.

“They’ve had a good start. I think they’ve only lost one game in the league. They were 2-0 up on Saturday, so to lose 3-2 must have come as a bit of a shock. They’ve got some quality players and they’re a good team.

“I think there’s talk of the crowd being 5-6000. They’ve got a tremendous support as it is and the way we’re going we’ll bring through a healthy support of our own.

“The fans have been tremendous so far. They go all over the country and it is a credit to them. It’s great to have their backing. We want to give them the three points they deserve.”