MacLean all set for cup clash with Jags
Steven MacLean St Johnstone’s Steven MacLean is raring to go after missing the season opener.
The artificial surface at Kilmarnock ruled the forward out but he returns to the squad for tonight’s Betfred Cup clash with Partick Thistle.
MacLean is determined to advance into the quarter final and said:“My season starts now but it was good to see the boys getting the three points on Saturday.
“It was a great win because I think Killie will be tricky to play down there.
“Partick will be difficult. The boy Lindsay is away but they have brought in Keown and the lad from Coventry.
“They like to keep the ball and they are maybe more physical now.
“But whoever wins is in the last eight and looking to reach the semi finals.
“I like the new format. With the final being in November it is something to look forward to if you get there.
“You aren’t kept hanging
about. The year we got beat off Hibs in the semi if it had been played earlier I reckon we’d have had a good chance of winning it because we were in right good form.”
MacLean hopes current good form can continue - and he takes little notice of how the club’s style of football is labelled by others.
“It’s a different season but the same old banter,”he said.“Maybe people will come up with something new one day.
“It’s a compliment to the gaffer and the boys I suppose but it’s funny when you see it pretty much every week.
“I don’t know about streetwise. It’s called winning football games in my book.
“We scored two cracking goals on Saturday and last season we scored plenty and played some right good stuff.
“We aren’t a big side like some others. We just know how to win games. You can’t win just by playing well every week.
“Teams will have spells in games and it’s about staying in matches when you aren’t playing well and seeing them out.
“We have always been good at that and we work on being well drilled. Everyone knows their roles. That is what it is all about.”
Kick-off against Partick Thistle on Tuesday, at McDiarmid Park, is 7.45pm.
Cash turnstiles will be in operation with season ticket holders of both clubs being offered discounted admission.