Saints to step up search for a striker after poor Betfred Cup campaign

ST JOHNSTONE will step up their search for a striker this week following their disastrous Betfred Cup campaign.

They lost to League One sides Montrose and Forfar and Premiership rivals Ross County.

League Two Brechin City were the only side they beat.

The McDiarmid Park men face Celtic at Parkhead in their opening league game on Saturday and it remains to be seen if any new striker will be in before then.

Saints are also looking at bringing in a left-sided defender and hope to get a couple in on trial this week.

Manager Tommy Wright said: “There is money set aside to bring in a striker but I also have to get players out before I get players in.”

Wright is not helped by the fact he could be without t wo attacking players for t he Celtic match.

Drey Wright is on the way back from a serious knee injury and Chris Kane missed out against Forfar due to a back problem.

Regarding Kane’s knock, Tommy said: “He may be OK, he may not.”

Saints are definitely without two other injured men, centre-back Liam Gordon and midfielder David Wotherspoon.

Reflecting on the Forfar loss, Tommy added: “It was embarrassing, it’s worrying but we’ll learn from it.

“It’s disastrous but we move on, we put it behind us.”

Saints rested Zander Clark, Richard Foster, Murray Davidson and Michael O’Halloran against Forfar but they are expected to be back for the Celtic game.

Meanwhile, former Russia international centre-back Sergei Baltacha has been voted Saints best foreign player of all time.

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright.