Davidson praises Rooney’s emergence as key Saints player

Davidson added: “It’s a real good balance in the squad and hopefully we’ll get most tied up soon.”

The Saints player who has perhaps best personified Davidson’s mantra of equal opportunity is Shaun Rooney.

The defender’s transformation from fringe squad member to match-winner has been a stunning one.

The former Inverness Caley Thistle man followed up his cup semifinal set-piece goal with another at Livingston on Saturday.

As endearing as his self-deprecation regarding his aerial ability is, the facts paint a different picture.

“Shaun said after the game he’s not very good in the air and misjudges the flight of the ball half the time,” said Davidson. “But he’s doing alright! “He can carry on misjudging the ball for it to go off his head and into the top corner. I’ll be happy with that.

“Shaun has given us another dimension. There are things he can get better at and he knows that himself.

“He has a great attitude and wants to learn. There is good competition in that position.”

It took until 2021 for Saints’ results to improve but Davidson has traced the resurgence further back than that.

“It’s been brilliant since Aberdeen on Boxing Day,” he reflected.

“It’s a strange one because for me we’re not playing as well but are picking up really good results. On Saturday I thought the players were superb with their combative play and how they coped with Livingston.

“We got goals at really good times which helps. We’re doing better in both boxes – from setplays and defending crosses.

“I still think we can do better on the ball at times and be more clinical. But we limited Livingston to very few chances.

“When we missed the penalty I knew we’d maybe concede a chance. Could we have done better at their goal? Probably. But I thought we saw the game out well. The back three defended their box brilliantly.”

There are five matches left for Saints before the Premiership split. They are only two points behind sixth-placed St Mirren but Jim Goodwin’s men have three games in hand.

“Top six is always a tough ask,” said Davidson. “It really depends on how St Mirren get on.

“We’ll be going out to win as many games between now and the split.”

Shaun Rooney has gone from fringe player to Saints match-winner with a series of fine performances.