Saints boss confident over young prospects

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright will probably have to choose between two young prospects to come into the starting line-up against Ross County at the weekend.

Full-back Richard Foster is unlikely to be fit to face his old club tomorrow.

That will leave Wright with the option of sticking with the back four that finished Sunday’s draw at Hamilton, including Aaron Comrie at right-back, or reverting to the defence that also looked solid in the Betfred Cup at Pittodrie, with Liam Gordon at centre-back and Joe Shaughnessy shifted wide.

Whichever way he goes, the Perth boss is confident it will work out well.

“We will wait and see with Foster but the likelihood is that he won’t make it,” he said.

“I thought Keith Watson was going to be ready but he isn’t. It’s just taken a little longer than we had hoped.

“If Richard doesn’t make it I’ll have a decision to make. It may be that Liam Gordon comes back in, if I think that is what’s best suited to get a result at Ross County.

“On Sunday, the best decision for us was to put Aaron Comrie on and I thought he did extremely well. He played well in pre-season games and has had a spell on loan at Montrose.

“Aaron is a very good one-on-one defender so I had no concerns about putting him out. He’s only 19 and likes defending. We have high hopes for him.”

YOUNG PROSPECTS: Continued from page 60

Steven Maclean will return after his enforced absence due to Hamilton’s artificial pitch, while Murray Davidson is also available despite his knees suffering a bit on the Accies astro.

There could also be a return for Chris Millar.

Wright reported: “Millar has trained this week and MacLean comes back into the squad.

“Davidson is fine. It was just bruising with the surface, particularly his knees which were black and blue coming off. But he’s fine.”

Meanwhile Wright has warned not to expect too much too soon from loan striker Joe Gormley.

He said: Wright said: “Joe got another run this week in the under20s. It has been difficult for Joe and we knew that when we signed him.

“He went from being a part-timer at Cliftonville to full-time football then had a really bad injury.

“He is on a bit of catch-up. We knew the score but that is the sort of market we are in.

“He has had two or three under20 games now but he has been out for a long time. We are working him hard in training and I have no problems with Joe.

“Once we get him up to speed Joe will score goals.”

One man who continues to excel in a Saints shirt is Danny Swanson, who was at his creative best in the second half last weekend.

“Danny was good and is a joy to watch,” he said.

“Long may that continue because he’s a very influential player for us.”

Saints will be meeting a team in form tomorrow, with Jim McIntyre’s men having drawn at Ibrox and Tynecastle in successive weeks.

“Ross County have had two great results,” Wright said.

“And their signing this week (Chris Burke) shows the ambition they have got – and the players Jim has been able to attract.

“A few years ago they perhaps found it difficult to attract quality players but now they are.

“They aren’t afraid to spend the wages which attracts quality to the club.

“They’ve signed Chris Burke and have got the resources to do that. They have a really good squad and it’s never an easy place to go to.”

Young defender Liam Gordon.