ST MIRREN manager Jim Goodwin is confident he still has enough firepower to shoot the Buddies into the top six, despite recent injuries to his strikers.

Goodwin will have to do without the services of hitman Kristian Dennis for the foreseeable future after he suffered an Achilles injury.

And new signing Collin Quaner has been sidelined by ligament damage since making his debut as a substitute against St Johnstone last month.

However, Jon Obika was on target for the Paisley team in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Kilmarnock and Goodwin can also recall Eamonn Brophy for tonight’s showdown with Celtic after he was barred from facing his parent club at the weekend.

Goodwin said: “Jon has been a big player for us and scored massive goals for us last year.

“Again, he got an important goal on Saturday because, at 1-0, Kilmarnock were looking dangerous.

“I thought his overall performance deserved the goal. He led the line brilliantly and caused their back three a lot of problems.

“Top end of the pitch is where the game is won and lost and the fact I can take players out of the quality of Brophy and Dennis and put Obika in is a real good luxury.”

Goodwin does, however, admit it is a blow to lose former Chesterfield and Notts County striker Dennis, who had scored in consecutive matches against Dundee United and Celtic recently.

“Since Kristian came to the club, he has had one thing after another,” said the Irishman. “He missed the start of pre-season because he came in so late and then he’s had one injury after another.

“We felt, just prior to this Achilles problem, we were starting to see the best of him. He looked as if he was getting sharper and fitter and was getting amongst the goals as well.

“He is probably our most proven striker in terms of numbers when you look at what Kristian has done over his career and we were really looking forward to seeing what he was going to give us in the second half of the season.

“Unfortunately, that’s not panned out the way we would have liked but he will get all the support that he needs and, if this season is over, then so be it.

“We will just need to make sure he is firing on all cylinders come pre-season.”

Tonight’s game in Paisley kicks off at 8pm.