O’Halloran hopes Saints catch Celtic cold in a red hot cauldron
THEY face a Celtic side with the Champions League on their minds. But St Johnstone attacker Michael O’Halloran doesn’t expect Neil Lennon’s men to take their eye off the ball as the curtain rises on the home front.
The Hoops head for Romania to face CFR Cluj hard on the heels of completing a 7-0 aggregate win over Estonians Nomme Kalju.
‘It would be good if we could catch Celtic cold, in between European matches,’ admitted former Rangers winger O’Halloran.
‘But they have a big squad and they can rotate it.
‘They rested James Forrest and Callum McGregor in midweek because they were 5-0 up from the first leg and they were two of their big players from last season.
‘It will be a cauldron (at Parkhead) but, as a footballer, you like playing in that sort of atmosphere and, hopefully, we can get something from the game.’
O’Halloran, who endured a miserable 12 months with Rangers and Melbourne City, will be a key man in boss Tommy Wright’s side this season.
And with the deal for Aberdeen striker Stevie May breaking down and Chris Kane ruled out by a back injury, he will be pitched up front at Parkhead.
‘I feel fit and ready to go,’ said the winger. ‘I’m looking forward to it because I wasn’t ready for last season to end. I’d had a long time off for one reason or another.
‘I know what I needed to do over the summer to make sure I am fit and sharp.
‘I’m now really looking forward to playing at Celtic Park.
‘After missing so much football, I look forward to games and I feel as fit as I’ve ever done.
‘I might be asked to play up front. I have played there before, so that wouldn’t be an issue.’
The Betfred Cup proved disastrous for injury-ravaged Saints, losing to Ross County and League One minnows Montrose and Forfar.
O’Halloran insists Wright’s men are desperate to atone for those disappointments.
‘It’s a fresh season and we have to go into it with a positive outlook,’ he added.
‘We have to put the disappointment of the Betfred Cup behind us. Having said that, you couldn’t get a more difficult first game.
‘But we have nothing to lose going to
Celtic Park. We will definitely be looking to take something from the game.
‘Hopefully, we will be well organised and difficult to beat.
‘You can see we are down to the bare bones a bit and obviously we want to get everyone back quickly and maybe get a few (new) boys in as well in the next few weeks.
‘The manager rested a few of us at Forfar because we were already out of the cup.
‘It’s always good to get a good start to any season. That can be key.
‘We have a difficult run of fixtures early on but if we get a win or two, then I’m sure it will put a smile on everyone’s faces here.’
Perth boss Wright has ruled out Kane, David Wotherspoon, Drey Wright and Liam Gordon.
‘The squad pretty much picks itself,’ said the Northern Irishman.
‘But we are ready and looking forward to the season, despite being written off in some quarters before a ball is kicked.
‘It has happened before and I enjoy trying to prove people wrong.
‘The squad is down but too much has been made of the number of players who have left.
‘Ten players have moved on since January. Between them, they made 67 starts but 54 of those were between Joe Shaughnessy and Tony Watt, who wasn’t really available after February. ‘So the other eight only played 13 games for me. ‘We are fully aware the squad lacks a bit of depth but the transfer window is still open for a few weeks. ‘Last year, we signed Ross Callachan, Danny Swanson and Tristan Nydam late on. ‘We have had more injuries than expected. ‘But we know we need one or two in and that will happen. ‘It’s a benefit to Scottish clubs that the top-level English transfer window closes next week and ours will still be open. ‘I think that you could see big movement next week.’