Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Striker crisis at McDiarmid Park
ST JOHNSTONE are facing a striker crisis ahead of the post-split games.
Chris Kane is out for the rest of the season with a hamstring tear and Denny Johnstone is also likely to miss out with a knee injury.
Callum Hendry and David McMillan are making their way back from i njuries, leaving just Steven MacLean fit.
And even he may not be at Saints for much longer as he is believed to be on the verge of signing a pre-contract agreement with Hearts.
MacLean is out of contract at the end of the season. He has intimated he is keen to stay on at McDiarmid Park and has no intention of hanging up his boots even though he is 35.
The striker travels from his home in Peebles to and from Perth for games and training, so signing for Hearts will mean he i s joining a club nearer his home.
As well as MacLean, Hearts are also thought to be keen on midfield man Murray Davidson.
Like MacLean he is from south of Edinburgh, i n Davidson’s case, Innerleithen, but he now lives in Perth.
With such a shortage of forwards, St Johnstone may have to push wide midfield player George Williams up front.
They could also blood promising young strike pair John Robertson and Shaun Struthers.
Robertson i s 16 and joined Saints from Tynecastle Boys’ Club while 18-year-old Struthers was signed from the Letham under-age set-up. Both have been scoring for the Development side.
St Johnstone’s Development team face their Hamilton counterparts o n Tu e s d ay (6pm) at McDiarmid Park. Saints are likely to once again field a very young team.