ST MIRREN manager Jack Ross will meet with Harry Davis today as the defender looks set for a return to Paisley.

The 25-year-old joined Saints on loan from English League Two side Crewe in January and made an instant impression, scoring three goals in nine appearances from centre back including one against Celtic in the Scottish Cup.

But Davis suffered a dislocated kneecap against Dundee United in March, cutting short his time at the Buddies.

However Jack Ross has continued his pursuit of Davis over the summer and the Englishman was at the Paisley 2021 Stadium on Tuesday night to watch St Mirren's 1-0 defeat to Livingston in the League Cup.

And with the defender set to return to fitness next month, Ross confirmed a deal is set to be finalised this week.

Speaking after the Livi defeat he said: "We'll meet with him tomorrow, but I've been in regular contact with Harry since his injury last year when he returned to Crewe. I've kept in touch with him regularly as he has done with me, we've pursued him for a long time.

"If we manage to get it done the its a terrific players joining us, he'll hopefully be back fit by the end of August. He did terrifically well here last season and ordinarily it's a player I don't think we could attract to this level."

Saints were frustrated for long periods by David Hopkin's side, who took the lead through Dale Carrick after just two minutes.

Ross admitted his team were below par and that Saturday's trip to Partick Thistle was now a must win tie if Saints are to keep their hopes of qualifying from Group H alive.

He said: "I don't know if we did enough to win the game, but I don't we deserved to lose it. I think in terms of the territory and pressure in the game but we didn't play particularly well.

"We're in that habit of conceding early goals which is not a good habit because it makes the rest of the game difficult, more difficult than if you don't concede.

"I think at half-time I would've been relatively happy with the performance had we not conceded because we were dominant, we got ourselves in good areas. In the second half we lost our way a little bit and the game becomes a bit scrappy because they sit in a bit deeper.

"It's one game, we want to qualify from this group, it makes that harder and means we need to win on Saturday now."