SAINTS EYE U P SAMMON Hearts striker rumour but other irons in the fire
Steven MacLean will miss the Killie game Saints boss Tommy Wright is still running the rule over a number of potential targets, and Hearts striker Conor Sammon is reported to be a remote possibility.
“We have been linked with a lot of players over the summer. We have three or four irons in the fire at the minute and we’re working hard.
“We’re in talks and will have to see what develops over the next few days.
“We think we are pretty close with one,” Wright said on Thursday.
French attacker Romain Habran is still training with the club, and is likely to feature at some point against East Fife tomorrow.
“We have a strong squad but it is no secret we are looking to add to it.
“We still have a couple of bits of business to do.”
The Northern Irishman remains confident that the Perth club will make one or two signings before the end of the transfer window, but
Sammon is reportedly among targets, but Wright was not revealing others knows that he isn’t the only boss looking to add quality to their side.
He added: “I believe we are going to strengthen the squad and that is important.
“Managers are all looking at the top end of the pitch and that is the hardest area to operate in.
“Everyone is looking for players who put the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis.”
Saints will field a side which mixes experience with youth against East
Fife tomorrow, and Wright knows the importance of rounding of preseason successfully.
“This is our last pre-season game so it is an important one in the buildup. I’m looking for a good work out to sign off pre-season. It’s good that we are playing on an artificial surface bearing in mind we open up the league campaign at Kilmarnock.”
Wright confirmed that hitman Steven MacLean won’t play and that his appearance on the astroturf in Vilnius was merely a cameo.
Having seen Trakai progress in Europe again, Wright is pleased to see his team bounce back as quickly as they have.
“The players have responded really well. Of course we were disappointed but FK Trakai have done really well, beating IFK Norrkoping, one of the best teams in Sweden, in the next round. It shows they weren’t the pub team some people were claiming.
“We know where we went wrong in Europe but the main thing is that the players have responded well and played some great football in pre-season matches, scoring some good goals, and we have looked solid again.”
Meanwhile, a younger Saints side were given a good workout by Dunfermline U23s on Tuesday.
“Our younger players had a good game against Dunfermline, winning 3-0. Brian Easton got 75 minutes and Graham Cummins also got game time after his illness.”
Zander started light training this week and will be back in full training on Monday.
St Johnstone’s final pre-season fixture takes place tomorrow against East Fife at Bayview in Methil, and kick off is at 12:00.