Tommy Wright thinking outside the box as Saints almost end run

Aaron Comrie’s inclusion in the starting line-up against Celtic said two things about Tommy Wright. The first was that the charge levelled at the St Johnstone boss by some – and used as a reason why he hasn’t been head-hunted for a higher profile job – that he doesn’t give youth a chance is a myth.

Keith Watson could have been kept at McDiarmid Park – and would have provided cover in two positions – but Wright was mindful of not blocking the progress of the up-and-coming man, Comrie.

To change a winning team when injuries or loss of form were not an issue and give a 20-year-old his first start at the most intimidating venue in the country shows Wright’s willingness to back a young player in general, and Comrie specifically.

It also shows that Wright is able to come up with a plan to try to give an allconquering team something different to think about – two right-backs – when the easiest thing, having won all three of your league matches so far, would have been to say “same again please lads”.

Saints came within 10 minutes or so of book-ending the Invincibles’ 52 games without defeat, and quelling the Celtic rampaging left-side double-act was crucial to his game-plan in getting to 79 minutes 1-0 up.

Serving up what Brendan Rodgers expects won’t end the unbeaten run. A bit of Wright-like ingenuity might, though.