Saints youth step up to the plate
Wright keen to boost side after losing six players
Tommy Wright has called on his newly promoted youth players to step up and help bolster his thin squad.
The St Johnstone manager has lost six senior players from the first team while Drey Wright has been the only senior signing for the club so far this summer from Colchester.
As a result eight players from the U17’s side have been promoted to the senior squad and manager Wright says that this summer is their big chance to impress.
He said: “We have promoted eight up from the U17’s which continues the number promoted over the last few years.
“They are the apprentices and it is up to them to do well and hopefully earn a professional contract.
“It’s a big few weeks coming up for everybody.
“We are going to Austria with 25 players and four of those are goalkeepers.
“They all have an opportunity to impress, from the most experienced down to the least experienced.
“You could argue the younger players will fill that but most have been in the first team squad anyway.
“But the ones here have to use pre-season to force their way in.”
Joining the youth players in the senior side is trialist striker Arthur Njo Lea (22) from Switzerland.
The former Rennes player most recently played for Excelsior Virton in the Belgian second division scoring 12 goals in 28 games last season.
Njo Lea joins other trialist Dean Lyness, who is an ex Nuneaton Town goalkeeper.
Wright said: “I have arranged for Arthur to meet us over in Austria so we can have a look at him.
“He is a striker we have had recommended to us, so he’ll train with the lads and that will allow us to see what he’s like.
“The squad is light in numbers, we know that. We have lost six senior players and only brought Drey in.
“So we are aware we need to add to the squad and the work on that is ongoing.”
The senior team is not the only part of the club that has seen a change.
Alec Cleland has been given the assistant managers position after Callum Davidson’s departure. Wright said: “Alec is stepping up to assistant manager and Alan Maybury is coming in to be the reserve team, U18s coach.
“He will also do what Alec did in the past, helping out with the first-team on matchdays.
“I have worked closely with Alec for seven years and it’s a deserved promotion for him.
He has been very much part of
St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright with his new back room team, from left Alan Maybury, Alec Cleland and Paul Mathers the success we’ve had so it was an easy decision.
“Alec was in the frame when Callum got the job, it was between the two of them, so this is the natural decision.
“He’s been a big part of things here, the players all know him well and respect him.
“Alan is someone I knew when I was assistant here and he was a player.
“I have always liked his views on football and he is an impressive character.
“He is an ex-St Johnstone player, which is always good, but more than that he has a wealth of experience at various clubs.
“So along with Paul Mathers and the rest of the staff, I am really pleased with the coaching structure we have in place.”
Meanwhile St Johnstone Colts will play Dundee United away in the first round of the Irn Bru Cup.
Tie will be played on August 14 or 15.