BY KYLE GUNN

St Mirren full-back Calum Waters has revealed that playing regular first-team football has given him his belief and hunger back.

The on-loan Kilmarnock left-back spent large spells of last season on the bench under Steve Clarke.

Behind Scotland international Greg Taylor in the pecking order at Rugby Park, it was always going to be a struggle for the 23-year-old to break into the starting XI.

And while Taylor is now with Celtic and Waters with the Buddies, the youngster insists the loan spell at the Simple Digital Arena is doing him a world of good.

READ MORE: St Mirren slump to the bottom of the table after Celtic defeat

He said: “I came here to get involved. I was sat on the bench a lot last season watching Killie do so well. We were beating Celtic and Rangers but I was sat there thinking ‘I want that to be me’.

“The fact I’m here now and playing every week has been brilliant.

“Everyone at the club, the staff and the fans have been brilliant - I can’t think them enough.

“When you go on loan it gives you that hunger back. You start to believe in yourself a wee bit more.

“I’m at that point now where I know I’m more than capable of playing at this level.”

Waters played second fiddle to Taylor last season and admits it was strange to come up against the new Celtic left-back in last week’s 2-0 loss.

He added: “I saw him after the game and gave him a hug. It was a bit weird because we were together a lot last season. We’ve got a really good relationship. 

“It was weird seeing him on the other side but I’m delighted for him to be doing so well and that’s why he’s gone to Celtic to play on that big stage. 

“It just shows you what’s possible. If you do put in performances against the Old Firm teams consistently you just never know what can happen.”

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