Holt hopes to help Saints finally get on winning track

New signing insists team showing no signs of panic and can still turn tide

A win against Motherwell will instantly change the outlook at Mcdiarmid Park, according to St Johnstone midfielder Jason Holt.

The Saints new boy is convinced of the quality in the squad he has joined and equally convinced that the Perth side can make rapid progress up the Premiership table.

And a home win this afternoon would be the perfect time to get some proper momentum into their league campaign.

“Nobody here is panicking,” said the former Rangers and Hearts man. “We can see things coming together.

“Looking at the table, it’s still tight and it’s very early on so there’s no need to worry too much.

“But we know we have to start winning games. If we play like we did against Aberdeen and then in the first half against Rangers, we’ll win games.

“Everyone has been looking at our next four or five games but the manager has stressed that we have to only look at Motherwell and no further.

“As a group, that’s what we are doing. We just want to get a decent result this weekend and then we can start looking forward. The games we have had so far have been difficult but we have to get wins on the board.

“It will come. There is a lot of quality in the squad and things will turn for us again. I could see that from the moment I came here.”

Holt’s influence was clear for all to see in his debut at Pittodrie a fortnight ago and he is happy to take on leadership responsibilities with Saints.

“We are a young team but there is good experience there,” he said.

“The back four is young but Jason Kerr has played a lot of games and is the captain. I am one of the more experienced players so I have to bring what I can to the side.

“I have to help the younger ones out, on and off the park. Everyone needs to play their part. Motherwell are a good side, they will come here and make things difficult for us.”

Having to sit out the Rangers match on Sunday was far from ideal for a player desperate for game-time at a new club, particularly as he and the team played so well in Aberdeen the week before.

“It was frustrating not being able to play last weekend,” Holt admitted.

“I knew that would be the case but after playing against Aberdeen you want to keep going.

“When I signed there was the international break straight away so I’ve had a while training with the boys.

“The Aberdeen game was a good performance and a good result but everyone is frustrated about the Rangers result.

“The first half was good. We limited Rangers to just one chance and we probably had the best opportunity.

“But in the second half, the early goal changed it and we have to dust ourselves down to go again.”

Manager Tommy Wright confirmed that Liam Craig is still out but everybody else is available, including the players who picked up knocks against Rangers.

“We are looking for that first win and it is totally down to us,” he said.

“Of course you are concerned when you haven’t had a win. But it can never get to the point where there is panic creeping in.

“I have been in these situations almost every season here, but maybe not at this stage. We just have to keep working hard and doing the things I believe will make us better. Most managers finding themselves

near the bottom of the league will be wanting to cut out the individual errors.

“Out with rangers and celtic no one has outplayed us. But those errors are why we haven’t picked up enough points so far.

“The quality is there in the squad. Maybe the back four is inexperienced. But we have been criticised nearly every season for the age of the team.

“There might be an argument that we have reduced it too much but every one of the defenders is a good player.”

Meanwhile Mark O’hara believes he can have another special season after joining Motherwell on deadline day.

The midfielder moved on a seasonlong loan from Peterborough after enjoying a successful temporary spell at Lincoln in the first half of the year.

O’hara explained: “I originally thought I was going to be going to Lincoln but for whatever reason that didn’t happen. As time went on, I thought I was going to be staying but a few options came up.

“As soon as I knew about Motherwell I had to hold a couple of people off, but this is exactly where I wanted to be. It was nervous because it went right down to the wire and I had to gamble a wee bit, but thankfully I got here.

“It’ s a really strong squad, a competitive squad, and there’s no reason why we can’t achieve top six, and that’s something I want to be part of. It seems a really ambitious season for the club.

“Over the last couple of years players have really developed here. I still see myself as a young player with lots to learn and I’m here to learn off the guys and work with the team. Hopefully I can become a better player.”

O’hara has made two appearances off the bench and is pushing for a start ahead of today’s trip to face St Johnstone.

“I played in the reserves in midweek and got my first 90 minutes in a while,” he said.

“Maybe I was a bit behind when I first came, but I have had a really tough training schedule to get up to speed and I feel as if I am there now.”