New signing Nicola adds boost to team
Saints WFC welcome left-sided centre-back
St Johnstone WFC’s latest signing will add further athleticism and composure to the squad.
That was the message from manager Jason McCrindle after welcoming leftsided centre-back Nicola Jameison to the club.
Jamieson joins from Hibernian under-23s and is set to add increased competition for starting places in the Perth side’s defence.
McCrindle said: “She is a left-sided centre-back which is rather rare these days and that will give us good balance in the team.
“We’ve got a number of centrehalves and this will provide further competition for that area of the pitch.
“All of the defenders know that there is that competition there and that will bring out the best in them.
“They are all building up good relationships with each other and they are all always wanting each other to do well.
“It’s not a case of someone coming in to take another player’s place. Everyone is competing for a start and that has resulted in a very good environment to work in.
“At the start of last season we were happy with the squad we had, but we did feel a left-sided centre-back would help us enormously.
“It can help us adapt in games and tinker with the shape. We’re not looking to bring anyone else in now.
“If someone does become available,
Jameison
Nicola they would need to be a very good player to be better than what we’ve got.”
Saints last week played their first friendly match following the coronavirus shutdown and lost out 1-0 against East Fife.
The season is pencilled in to begin next month and McCrindle said: “East Fife was the first game in seven months.
“We had Hibs this week, then Livingston and Montrose. We’re trying to get everyone game-time.
“There’s three games in a week and we’re hoping everyone will get the same amount of minutes.
“That will mean, come the first game, we’re ready to go regardless of who starts. The full squad this year will be even more important having not played for seven months.
“We’ve upped the training to ‘preseason status’ this week, so the intensity has been picked up.”
One player who has been impressing in training is 15-year-old Leah Sidey.
The youngster, captain of Jeanfield Swifts Girls U17s, made her debut in the East Fife friendly and is being tipped to shine further in the coming years.
McCrindle told the PA: “Leah is a player we got recommended through the pathway. She came on against East Fife and was a wee bit nervous, but once the game started she settled in really well.
“She has been excellent in training and is not shying out of the challenges. She doesn’t look out of place at all.
“There is a good core of players in that under-17 team. We actually have nine players who have come through the pathway.
“We’re really hopeful in the next couple of years that the squad will benefit further from these players coming through. The future is bright.”
Everyone is competing and that has resulted in a very good environment to work in