SAINTS TARGET ACE McMILLAN
shows the mentality of the players.” Smith dismisses the suggestion seventh-placed Hearts have endured a poor start to the season, sitting one point behind Hibs and two off Saints in fifth.
And he insists they can clinch a top-three finish and with it a return to European football after the return of Craig Levein as boss.
He said: “Christophe Berra, John Souttar and Ross Callachan are three big characters in the dressing room.
“Ross has been brilliant since he has come in. He has just joined the club and is great in the changing room.
“He’s a Hearts fan and wears his heart on his sleeve. It is fantastic to see that passion and it rubs off massively on the rest.
“Ross is a great lad and I have enjoyed his company. We are all working together to achieve our goal of finishing in the top three.
“We are on the right track and will see where we are placed after these three matches.
“Third is an achievable target MICHAEL SMITH – 100 per cent. That is why I joined the club as they have real ambitions to be in Europe.
“Every game in this league is massive. We have been playing okay but will get better.
“Some people say we haven’t started well but we haven’t played a home match yet and we are going well in the league.
“I don’t take notice of what is going on outside the building. As a footballer you just focus on your own game. The Dundee defeat was our biggest disappointment but we were undone by two set-plays.
“Nobody has opened us up since Craig Levein came in as manager. We have been a lot more solid and we are feeling a lot more confident.
“It is all about getting the basics right and that is what happens when a new manager comes in.
“If we become more free-flowing in the final third then somebody will take a hammering one day.” ST JOHNSTONE boss Tommy Wright is keeping tabs on Dundalk striker David McMillan.
The 28-year-old is coming out of contract and Wright has identified him as a transfer-window target along with team-mate Robbie Benson.
McMillan has bagged nearly 50 goals for the Irish side and caught the eye with five strikes in last season’s Champions League qualifiers.
He was linked with Dundee United over the summer but the Championship club were put off by the Oriel Park side’s valuation.