Saints will still have ‘swagger’ when they walk out at Tannadice

IT has been the longest close-season any of his players will have known – and hopefully ever will know – but that won’t stop Callum Davidson trying to ensure St Johnstone tap into the good vibes of the end of their last Premiership campaign.

Five months ago a late Callum Hendry winner against Livingston made it seven games unbeaten for Tommy Wright’s resurgent side.

It was a goal that proved to be the difference between sixth and seventh in the final table when points per game became a thing.

Behind Celtic, Saints were the form team in the top flight.

It’s a stretch for rookie boss Davidson to ask his team to pick up where they left off when the Perth men open their league season at Tannadice tomorrow.

He does believe there should still be the “swagger” of a confident side, however.

And reminding themselves of how well they were playing when Covid-19 kicked-in certainly beats recalling the disastrous first game, and first few months, of 2019.

“I wouldn’t focus too much on what happened at the start of last season (they didn’t win until October 26),” said Davidson. “I’d focus more on how they finished it.

“The majority of players who played that last 10 or 12 games are still here so they have that swagger.

“We want to continue that momentum in the next four or five weeks and get off to a good start.

“Both teams this weekend have new managers so things have changed, but I will mention it and get the lads to focus on how they finished last season.

“We are more focused on what we do and how we approach it than worry about Dundee United.”

Callum Davidson has confidence in his team.