LET’S GO ANDWIN EVERY GAME Davidson’s challenge

riding on this final game before the split.

“I’d have taken that and a League Cup win for the first time in the club’s history at the start of the season, without a doubt.

“We were sitting bottom at some points and we now have a chance to get that final top six place.

“Obviously we have to look at the St Mirren result so it’s not in our hands.

“All we can do is try to win our game and see where it takes us.

“Ross County have been playing well.

“He [manager John Hughes] has a team with lots of energy and I’m expecting another tight game against them.”

Saints were not in action at the weekend which gave some players vital extra time to recover and stake a claim.

“The wee break has been good for a few of the lads with niggling injuries,” said Davidson.

“Shaun (Rooney) and Craig (Bryson) are back fit and Ross (Sinclair) is progressing well from surgery on his hand.

“Murray (Davidson) won’t be pushed to make the Ross County game.

“We would like Muzz available for these types of games. But we have options in that area of the park.

“There’s the international weekend coming up so that gives us more time.

“We are probably being a little bit cautious with Murray and aiming at the first game after the split for him coming back into the squad.

“The last thing we want to do is push him too hard and risk him missing the rest of the season.”

Despite Saints, along with the rest of Scottish football, set to count their financial losses as a result of the pandemic, manager Davidson is still hoping to tie a number of players to new contracts before the summer.

“We want players going out of contract in the summer tied-up and others secured on longer deals,” he said.

“It is difficult financially for all clubs at the moment.

“We have gone a full year now without supporters coming into the grounds.

“That’s probably not what we expected when it all began and it has hit clubs hard, including St Johnstone.

“Like everyone else, we are braced for big losses.

“So we are trying to strike the right balance between making sure our players are taking home their salaries every month and ensuring the club continues to survive.”