The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Hamilton bids to nail down Dens No 1 role
He’s been around football long enough to know how these things can go but, even in uncertain times, Callum Booth is hopeful of signing a new deal at St Johnstone.
Saints boss Callum Davidson indicated Booth is among a number of players he’d like to offer extended contracts to amid the coronavirus pandemic, with his agreement set to run out in January.
Liam Craig and Chris Kane are in the same boat as the 29-year-old former Dundee United defender but Booth insists he hasn’t heard anything yet.
“I enjoy it here. I’ve been here over a year or so now,” the left-back said.
“I’ve not heard too much so we’ll see what happens over the next couple weeks.
“It’s obviously nice to hear the gaffer saying that.
“I’m realistic and I totally understand the situation. I think my last three deals have been six months.
“I’m meant to be in my prime at 29 but I’m hanging on in there getting threemonth deals here and there!
“I’m used to it now. It maybe would’ve bothered me when I was younger but it’s just part of Scottish football I think.
“With the virus as well I’m very realistic that clubs are going to be struggling a little bit more. We’re lucky to be in a job I suppose.
“I haven’t heard anything so it could be me in January! The world is crazy just now and we’re very lucky to be in this privileged position.
“If something was there on the table I would appreciate it and we’ll see what happens.”
Booth made his first start in a month on Tuesday night as the Perth men played out a 0- 0 Betfred Cup draw with United.
They had to make do with a share of the spoils over 90 minutes. However, the Tangerines were able to secure the bonus point after penalty shoot- out heroics from goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet.
That leaves St Johnstone needing to go to Peterhead on Saturday and win to secure Group C progression.
Booth was happy to be back out on the pitch and is hoping to play his part at Balmoor this weekend.
He added: “It was good – I’ve not started since the last cup games so it was really good to get back out there.
“It was quite enjoyable, just a shame we didn’t win, but it’s still six unbeaten and a chance to go through on Saturday. We heard Peterhead won on penalties (against Kelty Hearts) so if we win on Saturday we’ll go through.
“We would’ve taken that before the start of the group so we’ ve put ourselves in a good position but now it’s, obviously, up to us to go ahead and get the job done.
“It’s in our own hands but Peterhead up there won’t be an easy game for us. We can go up there confident, though, and, hopefully, we get through.”
Despite failing to find the back of the net against the Terrors, Booth was pleased with the performance, particularly keeping another clean sheet.
The former Hibs and Partick Thistle man feels they are a work-in-progress under Davidson, who took over from legendary boss Tommy Wright in the summer, and feels the finishing flourishes will come.
“We limited them to not too many chances which has been the story of our season,” he said.
“We’ve had a lot of games, especially at home, where we’ve not scored many goals but we’re creating a lot of chances.
“We had one or two clearcut ones on Tuesday night which, really, we should’ve scored but overall it’s good foundations at the back with the clean sheets and not conceding many this season.
“It’s definitely a good run and keeps the momentum going.”
He continued: “We were playing pretty decent stuff at the start of the season and it just wasn’t going our way but we’ ve really tightened up at the back recently.
“The manager has stuck with his formation and philosophy and it’s paying off because we feel we’re definitely heading in the right direction.
“Things we’ ve been working on in training with the gaffer and a lot of his ideas are starting to come through the last couple weeks.
“It was always going to take time. Tommy had been here for years and years.
“All the boys are enjoying coming into training and listening to the way he wants to play.
“Slowly we’re beginning to show that on the pitch.”
And Booth laid the gauntlet down to the McDiarmid Park strikers to get the Saints back in among the goals.
Indeed, his last appearance before Tuesday night came in the 5-3 win at Hamilton, a scoreline Booth would be happy to repeat every week.
He joked: “If we score five goals every week that’d be nice even if we concede three!
“Hamilton was one of those crazy freakish games but we are still creating a lot of good chances in the games.
“It just wasn’t to be on Tuesday night. It’s not so much of a worry and when it does click, hopefully we can start scoring a few more. The goals will come.”