RETURNING hero Ben Gordon revealed he jumped at the chance to rejoin Alloa Athletic on loan after enduring a frustrating start to life at St Mirren since joining them in the summer. 

The club legend made his triumphant return for the club in the comeback 2-1 win over Queens Park last weekend and played his part with a crucial goal-line clearance just before Iain Flannigan’s late winner. 

But the big defender admits he is just delighted to get back playing competitive football for the first time since last season after a frustrating time waiting for his chance from the bench in Paisley side for Alex Rae’s side this season. 

Gordon said: “I am obviously delighted to be at a club like Alloa that I know very well. 

“A lot of the boys are still here so it is great to be back, but mainly I am just delighted to play my first competitive game since April. It has been a while and very frustrating for me to be sat on the bench fully fit and just not getting the game time. 

“I felt rusty at first, but as the game went on I felt much better. It is not much fun sitting on the bench fit and not getting used so I was told I could go out on loan, so when the opportunity came up to come back here to Alloa then there wasn’t really much of a decision. 

“Once I had spoken to Jack [Ross, Alloa manager] and to some of the boys about the manager, then it was a pleasure to come in and help out. I have been very impressed with the tempo of training as well so I am looking forward to focusing on games again. 

“Speaking to some of the boys after the game, the performance on Saturday was nowhere near the levels that they normally produce, so from that sense it makes it all the more pleasing the way we came back from 1-0 down to win the game with 10 minutes to go. 

“I was delighted to be involved and have a contribution like the goal-line clearance, but I am mainly just delighted we got the win. I was a little wary of the size of the pitch having not featured for a while, but once I got going it became because the norm again to be out there.”

Gordon revealed he is in the dark as to what the future holds for him once his 90-day emergency loan at the Indodrill Stadium expires in mid-December and says he is simply focusing on helping the Wasps while he is here. 

The 30-year-old was thrilled to see the brilliant start the Wee County club had made to the new campaign and he believes the comeback win at Queens Park only enhances their title credentials. 

He said: “I have no idea what the future holds for me. I am simply focusing week to week now. 

“I am just coming in to be an Alloa player for the meantime and I think that helps both parties at the moment for me to just dig in and focus on that. After that I will just have to see where it takes me. 

“I definitely believe the squad has the talent to challenge for promotion. Obviously, we are in the mix just now and the result last weekend with the manner of it, really bodes well for us in that sense. 

“It speaks volumes for the team that we didn’t play at our best, but still managed to get the three points and these are the type of results that get you up there at the end of the season."

The former club captain admits he was pleasantly surprised to see his first two games back would be at Hampden Park and then Parkhead, but one thing that was never in doubt was he knew what to expect from the loyal Alloa fans who sang his name for all to hear throughout the national stadium last weekend. 

Gordon added: “I was wondering what I had let myself in for when I saw my first two games, but to play at Hampden and then Parkhead is brilliant. The Celtic game is a great game for us to be involved in and it is something to look forward to now. 

“I got a great reception from the fans, but I didn’t expect anything less from them because they are a brilliant bunch. I've have always known that and I have nothing but thanks for them with the way they have been with me in the past and the reception they gave me last weekend.”