I’M PLAYING FOR KEEPS
PARTICK TH v ST JOHNSTONE Zander’s back as No.1 and aims to stay there
ZANDER CLARK has his hands back on the St Johnstone keeper’s jersey – and has no intention of letting it go.
The Perth No.1 had a shut-out in the midweek clash with Ross County after replacing Northern Ireland international Alan Mannus.
The 25-year-old Clark, who had 31 starts last season, had been playing second fiddle since suffering a head knock scare in a pre-season game against Sunderland.
Mannus came back in then but now Clark hopes to get the nod again from manager Tommy Wright to face Partick Thistle today.
He said: “When you are a keeper there are two of you fighting for the one position so it’s just a case of being patient.
“When you have someone like Alan in front of you, an international keeper with over 250 games for the club, you know it could be a while.
“Was there every any temptation to chap the manager’s door? No, definitely not because I wouldn’t have had a leg to stand on.
“The team were doing well and Alan has been doing well so there was no case I could have made.
“Coming back in and keeping a clean sheet does your chances of staying in no harm but I know I’ve got to perform as Alan is there to take it back off me. Whoever has the gloves has to earn the right to keep them.”
The keeper is confident Saints can build on their point against the Staggies, saying: “We have a good record down at Partick.
“We had good intensity against Ross County so if we do that again and get a bit more quality in the final third we can win.”
Meanwhile, Wright admitted Mannus had every right to feel disappointed after being dropped. He said: “Alan hasn’t done a lot wrong and has played well but as a manager you have to make big decisions. I just felt it was the right time to freshen it up there.”