Easton is expected to play on Thursday

St Johnstone defender Brian Easton is expected to play against FK Trakai on Thursday evening.

The Perth full-back picked up a groin problem but managed to get minutes under his belt last week.

Easton’s inclusion would be a boost for manager Tommy Wright, who will be missing Steven Anderson after he picked up a knee injury.

The McDiarmid boss is set to call up a younger member of his squad to replace the captain with Ally Gilchrist, Jason Kerr and Liam Gordon all in the running.

Wright said:“Ando is definitely out, which is a blow, but the young defenders have done really well so we’ll make a decision on which one will play.

“They have made great progress in the last year, they have been playing games and have looked good in preseason. So I have no qualms about playing any of the three of them.

“All three of them will be capable of coping with the occasion so it’s going to be a tough decision.

“Whichever one plays, the other two will be disappointed because they have all done well and are more than capable.

“We have thrown in young players before in these games, Stevie May made his mark against Rosenborg, while Chris Kane, Scott Brown and Liam Caddis all played their part in the past.

“I think it gets overlooked that we have been bringing young players through, add Zander Clark into that and Craig Thomson and there are a few who have come through

the ranks here.

“Brian Easton came through 65 minutes at the weekend and hasn’t had a reaction so we are expecting him to be fit.”

Wright is mulling over whether or not to sign trialist defender Scott Tanser, previously of Rochdale and PortVale.

“I still have to make a decision on Scott, I’ll speak to him over the next day or two,”saidWright.