Jim Goodwin has called on his team-mates to avoid picking up needless suspensions, to provide Danny Lennon with the most options possible.

St Mirren have one of the smallest squads in the league, and were only able to bring in three reinforcements during the summer to replace the six outgoing players.

Given the size of the squad, Goodwin knows that keeping free of suspension could shape the season for the Paisley club.

He said: "I'm one to sit here and talk about discipline, obviously I had my own situation last year where I missed a few games, and after missing the start of this season's it has been a bit of a disaster from my own point of view.

"The daft little sendings off and bookings that we've been picking up, we're that short on numbers this year that we need everybody to be fit and not suspended so the manager can have a full squad to choose from."

While Goodwin wants the team to curb their temper, he is also wary of killing off the competitive spirit that exists in the camp.

He continued: "If you take away that competitive side to our game we're probably not the sort of players that the manager would be looking for.

"We as players have a responsibility to behave in the correct manner on the pitch. The manager was just reiterating that to me and a few of the boys during the week and that's something that we'll have to work on."

St Mirren face Hibernian in the third match of the season, with Danny Lennon's side at the top of the division.