The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Saints new boy in Wright’s plans for Dens clash
Saints midfielder struggling as scan shows he’s weeks away from recovery
Denny Johnstone is “knocking on the door” for a start in tomorrow’s Tayside derby at Dens Park, according to Tommy Wright.
The former Celtic and Birmingham centreforward, who was linked with Dundee before he opted for a loan move to Perth, has made a good first impression on the Saints manager.
And he has a chance of making the XI that faces the Dark Blues, after two substitute appearances so far.
“Denny has been doing very well so he’s giving me something to think about,” said Wright.
“I brought him here to play, not sit on the bench, so he’s knocking on the door.
“He has been a bit unfortunate because we have been doing well with the formation we have been playing but it’s something we’re always looking at.”
Wright revealed that Blair Alston’s thigh injury is proving harder to recover from than first anticipated.
He reported: “Blair is struggling a bit because it’s not healing as we expected and he’s had to go for another scan.
“With the type of injury it is, it needs to be 100% before he can come back but right now he’s only able to get to 95%.
“The scan showed he’s going to be out for another couple of weeks at least which is unfortunate because he’s been working hard and is desperate to get back.
“It’s right at the top of his thigh, it was a dead leg and they either clear up quickly or in Blair’s case you are unlucky and it takes a while.”
Murray Davidson, though, is likely to be available.
Wright said: “Murray is back in light training, he’s over his illness, but we will have to assess him in the build up to the game.”
Meanwhile, Wright is happy with the impact summer signing Stefan Scougall has had at Mcdiarmid Park.
“With a player like Stefan you have to get him on the ball and when we’ve done that I have been very pleased with him,” he said.
“When I brought him here I said he would be a good signing and there’s no doubt he has been. Everyone drives each other on to be better, that’s in every position.
“He has settled in well, I’m happy with him. Right now Michael is the one getting the goals so he is getting all the attention, but Stefan is working hard. What we need to do it get him on the ball high up the pitch.”
Figuring out Neil Mccann’s team selection will be no easy task for Wright.
“Sometimes you have a fair idea what the opposition will do but this might be one of those weekends you don’t,” he admitted.
“Dundee’s two centre backs have done very well but Darren O’dea is fit again so Neil will have a decision to make there.
“But all we will focus on is ourselves and preparing our team for the game.”
Wright let it be known to his players that the performance in the draw against Hibs hadn’t hit the level he demands, and his squad has reacted in the right way to his observations.
“I call games as I see them so there’s no point pretending you’re not disappointed. The players were disappointed themselves, we didn’t do well enough on the ball and we sat too deep.”