Tanser ready to battle to win full-back berth

LOCKDOWN brought Scott Tanser a new daughter and a new manager.

And now that Premiership football is close to a return, the St Johnstone defender has a new focus.

This will be the first season since the Englishman arrived at McDiarmid Park that he has a battle on his hands from the opening game for the starting left-back position in the Saints team.

In years one and two, injuries to Brian Easton gave Tanser a free run and in his third campaign, Callum Booth wasn’t signed as competition until mid-September.

It’s a different story this time around, though, with new boss Callum Davidson assessing who to select for the opening match against Dundee United in three weeks.

And Tanser, whose second child Connie-Rose arrived in April, is up for the challenge that’s in front of him – getting in the side in the first place and providing support for the younger defenders in the Perth backline.

“Myself and Callum (Booth) work off each other,” said the 25-yearold. “You obviously want to be in that starting place but we have a good relationship.

“We are now the experienced ones.

“You are not going to be young forever and you need to step up and help the younger ones through.

“The defence is young but not inexperienced. We’ve played a lot of games together and hopefully that can continue.

“You see how we ended last season with all of the young lads. But the way we all gel together and work as a team continues to be brilliant.”

Scott Tanser