The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Results will determine how many Saints target
A good December for St Johnstone could see just a couple of January arrivals at McDiarmid Park, writes Eric Nicolson.
But if results don’t go the Perth club’s way, Tommy Wright revealed it may well be a busy transfer window.
David McMillan’s arrival from Dundalk is “practically there” and the next few games will determine how many more new boys will be joining him.
“Like all managers I am working hard to try and bring in a few in the window,” said Wright.
“Ideally it would be a minimum of two but it might be more. I have been speaking to the chairman and this month will determine how many we need to bring in.
“We might have to do something we haven’t done in the past and bring four or five in.
“Like other clubs, it will depend on how December pans out for us.
“I am not expecting any problems with the McMillan pre-contract. It is practically there and just ready to be signed off.
“I should know about a loan deal next week and there are a couple of others we are working on. But it requires movement at the other end.”
The injury situation has taken a positive turn, with Brian Easton and Aaron Comrie both ahead of schedule.
Wright said: “Easton was able to go on the grass with the physio on Tuesday and, all being well, we hope to have him back in full training by the end of next week. Hopefully we could target him for the Hearts game.
“Comrie is making remarkable progress and now has a good chance of being back before January. But there is a note of caution because with this type of injury you can make rapid progress and stall a little bit.
“Millar had to come off ill in the U20s on Monday and is still not back. He won’t be available and neither will MacLean because of the surface at Hamilton.
“On the plus side the sickness bug some players suffered last weekend seems to have come and gone.
“Alston didn’t train on Tuesday but he has fully recovered and so have Anderson and Shaughnessy.”
Saints head to Hamilton tomorrow, where they will face an in-form Accies side led by manager of the month Martin Canning and featuring player of the month David Templeton.
“Hamilton’s awards are fully deserved,” said Wright. “They have always been difficult to beat and physical and there’s nothing wrong with that.
“They are unbeaten in five or so and that’s difficult to do in this league. There are seven clubs with much the same record.
“We have dropped out of the top six on goal difference and that is our responsibility. We haven’t done well enough, consistently enough.
“We thought we were back to our best at Hibs. But we took two steps forward then three backwards against Kilmarnock. We were back to losing daft goals, including one of the softest of the season.
“We have worked hard this week and we know we are going to a ground where it is always difficult. But we have got results there in the past.”