BY KYLE GUNN

ST MIRREN boss Oran Kearney has been dealt a double injury blow ahead of this afternoon’s clash against Livingston.

Midfielder Kyle Magennis will undergo a scan to determine the extent of a recurring hamstring problem which forced him off against Hibs on Wednesday, while striker Danny Mullen will need minor surgery on an ankle injury, which also ended his game early at Easter Road.

And Kearney is bracing himself for both to be unavailable for a few weeks.

He said: "Danny Mullen, obviously, has hurt the ankle and it looks like he might need a minor operation.

"So, again, you’re probably looking at six to eight weeks. A small bone broken we think.

"We’ll have more of an understanding of Kyle’s injury probably over the weekend.

"It’s in the hamstring area again so you’d expect him to be out for a few weeks with an injury like that."

The injury to Magennis is a key blow to the Saints, with the midfielder's form one of the bright sparks of St Mirren's season so far. 

Kearner continued: "He’s a huge player for us. Not only in the present but for the future as well.

"It’s disappointing for him as well.

"It's one of those we’d like to get to the bottom of very quickly and hopefully eradicate.”

Saints came away from Edinburgh with a point during the week, but could have come away with the victory having been ahead twice in the 2-2 draw.

But the Northern Irishman wants his side to go one better against Gary Holt’s Livingston  and get their first three away points of the season. 

He said: “They are a tough side who have had a really good start to life in the Premiership and who know exactly what it takes to win games.

"I think it's so important that we match that fire. In the past three games we had it against Hearts and Hibs, but we didn't quite have it against Hamilton.

"If we hit the levels we had against Hamilton it will be tough, so have to we hit the levels we hit on Wednesday night and last Saturday. We look at the opposition but I'm more concerned with and that we deliver that same level and energy."