The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Familiar feel for returning Saint
LOAN: Winger likens McDiarmid Park move to ‘putting an old pair of boots on’
Familiarity is breeding contentment for Michael O’Halloran, with the winger admitting that being back at St Johnstone is like wearing “an old pair of boots”.
The return of the Saint has seen O’Halloran rejoin his former club on loan from Rangers until January, with the prospect that the stay could be longer.
The 26-year-old moved from McDiarmid Park to Ibrox in February 2016 after enjoying great success in Perth.
Now he has made the return trip in search of regular games and he admits that he already feels right at home.
O’Halloran said: “Coming back here is like putting an old pair of boots on.
“I knew exactly what I would be walking back into on my first day back here.
“I got the car with Brian Easton and Chris Millar, which is what I used to do, and Manny the kit man had made sure I was in the same place as before in the dressing-room. “My number has changed, though. “I’ve got number 11 now instead of 29 – but that’s about the only thing that has changed.
“There are also a few new faces but I will get to know the newer lads pretty quickly.”
“Coming back to an environment I know well was important to me because I need to get playing again,” added O’Halloran.
“I had heard about the manager being interested but it wasn’t really until last Saturday morning I knew for sure it was going to happen.
“There were a few other options but this was the one I really wanted.
“I always came in here with a smile on my face in the morning.
“I enjoyed my first spell here so this is where I wanted to be once it became clear I could move on.
“A few of the lads had been on at me as well as I’d kept in touch with them and they were telling me to come back.
“They have actually been very nice to me so far but I’m sure that will soon change and the old slaggings will start off again.
“They will probably give me a day or two then it will be back to the way it was before!”
Saints boss Tommy Wright was the key figure in the bid to get O’Halloran back to Perth and the player is looking forward to renewing that strong relationship with the Northern Irishman.
“The gaffer is the best manager I have played under in terms of how he got me playing,” added O’Halloran.
“He knows how to get the best out of me. So he was a massive factor in my coming back here.
“He made it clear he wanted me to come back and it was the best option for everyone.”
O’Halloran is bang in contention for a start on Saturday when Saints travel to Kilmarnock to open the Premiership season.
That is not something that will faze him one bit.
“Obviously, I have not played a lot of football this year but I’m ready if he wants me for Saturday down at Kilmarnock,” he said.
“I have been training hard and am in good physical shape. It is just the match sharpness that I am going to need.
“I enjoyed getting on (in the friendly) against East Fife at the weekend and just can’t wait to get back playing on a Saturday again.
“Every footballer will tell you it’s not nice when you are out of the team so it was a no-brainer to come back when the chance came.
“Will there be expectation on me this time round? I don’t know, but there is expectation on everyone here after the last few seasons.
“If the fans are looking to me to deliver then I am happy enough with that because hopefully that’s what I will be doing.”