The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)

Wright pleased with his attacking options

Manager believes he has added more quality

- IAN ROACHE iroache@thecourier.co.uk

St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright is happy that his plan of attack is ready to be launched at Kilmarnock.

Saints kick off the Premiershi­p campaign at Rugby Park on Saturday and Wright is satisfied that he has everything in place at the business end of the pitch.

“I have had a clear plan of what I wanted,” said Wright. “I have been looking to get more quality at the top end of the pitch since January.

“I think I have achieved that. “David McMillan came here back in January but it’s been like having a new player after being on the receiving end of a horrible challenge in his first game. “He has shown he can get us goals. “Maybe at times he has done too much work outside the box but he is a finisher and the movement for his goal at Forfar was excellent.

“Tony Watt will be a good signing if he keeps improving and gets to the level he should be at and we have Chris Kane and Callum Hendry.

“They can all play in different systems, which gives me options.

“You can add to that Matty Kennedy and Drey Wright, who have settled in well and look a threat in the wide areas.

“We are still looking to get one more player in and getting through from the group stages should hopefully help us get the midfielder we want.

“The key is that we have looked solid in the games so far and our full-backs are getting higher up the park.

“But with due respect to the teams we have played up to now, Kilmarnock will be the toughest test so far.”

The Perth men arranged a training match against a Hearts side yesterday in order to help those needing game time.

Meanwhile, Wright is reasonably happy about Saints being paired with Queen of the South in the Betfred Cup last-16 draw, albeit it will mean a trip to Dumfries on Saturday August 18.

He said: “The aim was to qualify as Betfred Cup group winners and hopefully be seeded. We achieved that so the players should be happy with how we have started the season.

“We have Queen of the South away next but I wasn’t too concerned with who we got out of the pot. We will certainly be well prepared in terms of playing on plastic pitches.

“They are a good side with a potent striker in Stephen Dobbie but, as always, we will fancy our chances to get through.

“The priority right now is getting ready for the league, which is where we are always judged over the course of a season.”

St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright is happy that his plan of attack is ready to be launched at Kilmarnock.

Saints kick off the Premiershi­p campaign at Rugby Park on Saturday and Wright is satisfied that he has everything in place at the business end of the pitch.

“I have had a clear plan of what I wanted,” said Wright. “I have been looking to get more quality at the top end of the pitch since January. “I think I have achieved that.

“David McMillan came here back in January but it’s been like having a new player after being on the receiving end of a horrible challenge in his first game.

“He has shown he can get us goals. “Maybe at times he has done too much work outside the box but he is a finisher and the movement for his goal at Forfar was excellent.

“Tony Watt will be a good signing if he keeps improving and gets to the level he should be at and we have Chris Kane and Callum Hendry.

“They can all play in different systems, which gives me options.

“You can add to that Matty Kennedy and Drey Wright, who have settled in well and look a threat in the wide areas.

“We are still looking to get one more player in and getting through from the group stages should hopefully help us get the midfielder we want.”

 ?? Picture: SNS. ?? Tommy Wright: Fancies Saints’ chances of extending cup run.
Picture: SNS. Tommy Wright: Fancies Saints’ chances of extending cup run.
 ?? Picture: SNS Group. ?? Dunfermlin­e captain Lee Ashcroft was at Hampden Park yesterday for the official launch of the Ladbrokes SPFL season, which kicks off on Saturday.
Picture: SNS Group. Dunfermlin­e captain Lee Ashcroft was at Hampden Park yesterday for the official launch of the Ladbrokes SPFL season, which kicks off on Saturday.

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