ST JOHNSTONE HIBS ARE STILL GOING STRONG Wright: Leith side remain packed with quality after McGinn exit

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright expects Hibernian to continue to impress — even without star man John McGinn.

The midfielder won’t turn out against Saints this weekend after penning a deal with English Championship side Aston Villa this week.

But Perth boss Wright reckons losing the Scotland international won’t throw Hibs’ plans to challenge up at the top of the Premiership off course.

Neil Lennon brings his squad to McDiarmid on Sunday afternoon following their Europa League battle with Molde last night.

Wright is eager to bounce back from an opening-day loss at Kilmarnock and said: “Alex Cleland was watching Hibs against Molde.

“I saw them on Sunday against Motherwell and they played with fluency and a high level of confidence all over the park. They have done extremely well so far.

“Neil has lost McGinn (right) now hard on the heels of McGeouch. But he has been able to recruit and Emerson Hyndman is a good player. “The winger from Man City (Thomas Agyepong) is another good one and he has been able to bring back two strikers from last season. “I don’t think Hibs will be sitting on the McGinn money. I think they will spend over the next couple of weeks. “I don’t want to put pressure on Neil because he will give me an ear bashing. “But knowing him, he will have his sights set on that. He is going to have to use some of the money to recruit.

“The club are going to have to back him.

“He has a number of highquality players in the squad and has the potential to upset the order being predicted by the pundits.

“Neil fancied his chances of finishing second last year. He drove them and drove them.

“He got them into Europe and he won’t change this season. Neil will be exactly the same.

“He will want investment in the team. He will want to benefit from the McGinn money.

“It turned into an auction for McGinn but I think that is down to the quality of the player. He had options in England and Scotland.

“McGinn has matured physically and developed as an athlete. He hit one 80-yard diagonal against Motherwell that was unbelievable.

“He still picks up too many bookings for my liking but he gets goals and is a top, top quality player.

“I am only surprised that some of the Premiership clubs weren’t in for him.

“But Aston Villa is a massive club and Steve Bruce is a good

manager. If he gets it right they could easily get back to the Premier League.”

Wright is wanting to see his players be braver on the ball on Sunday following last week at Rugby Park.

“We have to keep the ball on Sunday,” he explained.

“We defended well enough in the first-half at Kilmarnock but kept giving the ball away, turning over possession.

“My biggest concern is that we weren’t brave enough on the ball.

“With players like Drey Wright and Matty Kennedy here, we have to get them involved. And we have to get the right service to Tony Watt.

“The reaction in training has been good but that doesn’t win you football matches. It is all about what they do when the whistle goes on Sunday.”

Captain Joe Shaughnessy has trained this week and Wright says the central defender could be in with a chance of playing against Hibs.

He said:“There’s good news on Joe and Brian Easton. They will both get a full week’s training in with the squad.

“Joe has been able to keep up his general fitness. I will look at him with Sunday in mind because he is a fit lad.

“The nature of the injury meant he couldn’t have any contact training .”