ST MIRREN boss Gus MacPherson reckons Saturday's win over Hibs is proof his side can survive without striker Craig Dargo.
It was another three points secured in the absence of the hitman but the Love Street boss is delighted with the efforts of the players who have taken the club to ninth place in the league table.
Dargo, who joined Saints in the summer from Inverness, has yet to make his competitive debut after picking up a serious knee injury during a preseason run-out against Clyde.
And MacPherson revealed he has no idea when the player will return.
He said: "Craig's been told by the doctors he can't do anything while he's still feeling pain in his knee, so we really don't know how long it will be before he is playing.
"He has a great desire to play again but while he can't do anything about it at least the team is moving on. We've now got four wins on the board, the same amount as we had at this stage last season, and my players are playing with abit of belief.
"The results are giving them the confidence to play good football but they aren't getting carried away.
"They know that nothing but hard work keeps you in this league. As soon as you take your foot off the pedal you can get hurt."
Meanwhile, MacPherson insists he has no plans to take his side off for a sunshine break to relieve the boredom of a three-week break from SPL action.
Saints will be idle until a trip to Inverness on November 24 after they agreed to postpone their clash with Rangers to aid Scotland's Euro 2008 preparations for the crucial clash with Italy.
But MacPherson added: "We had three weeks off during the season last year when our game with Hibs was cancelled because they were in the CIS Cup Final and we went away to the south of Spain.
"But that was in March when you are almost guaranteed good weather there.
"It 's not the same in mid-November. It could be miserable so what's the point?"
