Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Saints loan star left out by Wales
GEORGE Williams, who has been on loan from Fulham to St Johnstone, has been omitted from the Wales squad to face Mexico on Monday in Pasadena.
Also left out of the original squad are former Celtic man Adam Matthews, West Brom’s Hal RobsonK a n u , N o r t h a m p t o n ’s Regan Poole, Cardiff City’s Cameron Coxe, Swansea’s Dan James and Norwich City’s Marley Watkins.
Williams, who has seven international caps, is now out of contract at Fulham and is waiting to see if a new deal will be offered to him.
The Perth side hope to have him back at McDiarmid Park next season.
Meanwhile, Saints team boss Tommy Wright said he feels he and the club have, in the past, been unfairly labelled with the fact they don’t give youth a chance.
He commented: “I’ve always said if you’re good enough you’ll play.
“I t ’s j u s t b e e n that, in previous years, t he quality hasn’t been there in our younger players.
“Now we’ve got that – and it’s a testament to Alec Cleland who has done a lot of work with the younger members of the squad. He has done really well.
“We’ve had Aaron Comrie, Ali McCann, Kyle McClean, Liam Gordon and Jason Kerr making massive improvements and they’ve contributed to the firstteam squad.”
Tommy is also delighted at the progress shown by John Robertson. The 16-year-old was recruited from Tynecastle Boys’ Club and has made top-team substitute appearances.
Another teenager, Shaun Struthers, may also have been involved with the first team but for injuries.
Tommy added: “We also have Callum Hendry who has been unlucky with injuries. However, he will get his chance again.”