Longer break will allow work on pitch

SAINTS: Extended break will benefit squad

“The league is tighter this season and I think we have genuinely been affected by the fact that we had another early start,” added Wright.

“That’s not me making excuses, it’s a fact.

“So this summer we’ll get a bigger break into the players. They will get few more weeks.

“In the last few years they’ve had a three-week break but now we’ll be able to give them six weeks to go away and recharge the batteries a bit.

“So, although it’s disappointing we won’t have the chance to get into Europe again, there are a few positives we can take from it with regard to next season.”

The much-criticised pitch at McDiarmid Park was earmarked for major work last summer but the project had to be shelved because of early Europa League commitments.

The surface deteriorated badly during one of the wettest winters on record but after tomorrow’s clash with Aberdeen, there is just one more game, against Celtic, to come.

Wright explained: “We will also get a chance to get work done on the pitch because we had plans to sort it last summer then had to change them because of the early start.

“So this summer we’ll hopefully get a few of the issues resolved, although with the League Cup starting earlier it will still be tight.”

Tommy Wright would gladly have embraced another Europa League campaign.

But after missing out this year, the St Johnstone manager suspects his players will benefit from an extended summer break.

The Perth squad has had to dig deep over the past four years and Wright suspects that has taken its toll in terms of injuries.

Skipper Dave Mackay has undergone a second hip operation and midfielder Chris Millar has been plagued by hamstring issues, with Murray Davidson among other personnel who have kept the medical team busy.

Wright said: “It’s disappointing that Europe has come to an end for the moment. But if you take a step back from it, it gives the club good time to prepare for next season.

“The European matches have been fantastic and everyone at the club, the players, the board, the fans, the coaching staff and myself, have loved getting that experience.

“But the league has got tougher every season – the amount of points it took to get into the top six was higher this season, for example.