Wright asks fans to trust his judgment

Tommy Wright has warned Saints fans to be patient as he nurtures the next generation of home-grown talent.

With injuries piling up, the St Johnstone manager has given first team chances to keeper Zander Clark and young defenders Liam Gordon and Aaron Comrie in the early weeks of the season.

And while they have all caught the eye, Wright is asking supporters to trust McDiarmid staff to handle their development over the short and longer term.

“I did say youngsters would get their chance this season but quite a lot of people, supporters included, maybe didn’t believe me,” said Wright, who nurtured home-grown striker Stevie May before he landed a £750,000 transfer to Sheffield Wednesday.

“I’d like to think the staff here, including myself, have enough experience to know when the time is right to blood younger players.

“They will get their chance here and I think there will be even more quality coming through with Alastair Stevenson coming back to head-up youth development.

“But they have to be better than the player who is in front of them. That is the reality of football.”

Wright revealed that full-back Richard Foster has undergone a scan on the thigh injury he suffered in the opening minutes of the 1-1 draw with Hamilton Accies and is already out of the weekend trip to face his former club, Ross County.

“The initial assessment on Richard isn’t too serious but he will be out for Saturday. Hopefully we will have him back after the international break,” said Wright.

Injury-plagued former St Mirren full-back Keith Watson is also targeting a return after the break.

Wright said: “We were thinking of giving Keith game time in the U20s against Montrose but didn’t want to risk him on an artificial surface. He’s better getting a full week’s training under his belt.

“At a push, we could put him in the squad for Saturday but young Aaron and Liam have emerged as genuine first team players. I don’t have to rush Keith back.”

Midfielder Chris Millar is back in training and Tam Scobbie is progressing well after knee surgery. But young defender Ally Gilchrist is out for a further six weeks.

“Ally is getting another groin operation this week, this time on the other side. If he had been fit he might have been ahead of Liam so it’s unfortunate for him.

“It’s early days but Liam and Aaron have done themselves no harm with their performances.

“Liam is a bit more experienced but Aaron coped very well with being thrown on at Hamilton and kept a seasoned professional like Dougie Imrie quiet.

“His use of the ball is good and he is a very good, aggressive defender. And when we changed the system to a back three he slipped into the right centre-back role. Aaron deserved his chance and he took it.”

The Perth side passed up a chance to go second in the table on Sunday but Wright is delighted with their start to the season.

He said: “It has been a positive start but no one is getting carried away just seven games into the league season.”

Picture: SNS Group, Aaron Comrie took his chance to shine when coming off the bench early in the game at Hamilton.