The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Wright sees ‘big future’ for Kane
Striker can alter St Johnstone manager’s transfer priorities
Tommy Wright is excited about seeing the level Chris Kane can reach next season after watching him put in the performance of a “complete centreforward” at the end of the last one.
The striker came back from a knee injury ahead of schedule and caught his manager’s eye with a winning goal z and man of the match display in the penultimate fixture against Hearts.
Wright believes the spell on the sidelines has been put to good use.
“The period off has allowed him to bulk up more,” he said.
“He’s been in the gym a lot and it has worked.
“I thought he looked like the complete centre-forward (against Hearts) in terms of his link-up play, with him being physically stronger.
“It was a big performance. And I would say, although he tired, it was his best game for us.”
If Kane picks up where he left off, Wright may alter his transfer priorities before the window shuts.
“If Chris Kane replicated the goals he got in the Championship there’s a chance we wouldn’t need another striker,” he said. “Chris has always scored goals. “He scored goals at under-age level, at Dumbarton, and he’s scored goals in the Premiership.
“We need it on a more consistent basis and his level of overall performance, to enable him to play week in and week out, needs to get better. “Then the goals will come. “He’s certainly got a big future,” he added.
Comparisons with Stevie May have been made over the years and are inevitable as long as Kane is a Saints player.
“He’ll maybe take the view that he hasn’t had a run of 10 or 20 games like Stevie May got,” said Wright.
“But the flip side is that Stevie scored regularly. Chris has still to get to that level.
“If he gets consistent performances, he’ll certainly get goals.”