St Johnstone boss Wright is backing McCann

ST Johnstone boss Tommy Wright reckons Dundee have the ability to lift themselves off the foot of the table.

However, he’s warned Neil McCann and his men they can’t afford to hang around in the Premiership basement for too long.

Wright, who takes his Perth side to Dens on Saturday, said: “Dundee certainly have ability in their squad, they have good players, and Neil will need them to perform to a consistent level because that’s what you need to pick up points in this league.

“I spoke to Neil quite a few times when he was with Sky because he used to come in for a chat and Graham Gartland was still at St Johnstone when I joined. So I know them both.

“Neil has had to bring in a lot of new players over the summer.

“After the season they had last year he obviously thought what they had wasn’t good enough so has tried to change that.

“It takes time when you are bringing in new players in numbers.”

Wright added: “They will be looking to get back to winning as soon as possible because they don’t want too big a gap opening up.

“You saw last season with Inverness how difficult it is to play catch-up so Neil will be desperate to avoid getting into that situation.

“When you are chasing teams in front of you it makes for a very difficult season.

“We all go through bad spells as managers. I have had five and six-game losing or winless runs, Alan Archibald has had t hem, Jim McIntyre has had them.

“It happens in this league because the margins are so tight.”

Sofien Moussa has returned.