Wright calls upon Saints to deal with May reunion

ST JOHNSTONE: Former striker will face his boyhood club for first time at Pittodrie

The sight of Stevie May in the red of Aberdeen will be an unfamiliar one to the St Johnstone players.

But there won’t be a team in the country more aware of the threat the former Saints hero will pose.

May will come up against his boyhood club for the first time at Pittodrie tomorrow and if the Perth men can keep the Scottish Cup hero quiet it will go a long way towards helping them knock his new side off second place in the Premiership.

“We know all about Stevie and it is good to see him back playing but we need to deal with it – he is an Aberdeen player,” said boss Tommy Wright.

“Stevie has scored goals and looks like he is getting fitter and stronger.”

Wright continued: “He has had a reasonably good start and has managed to hit the back of the net.

“He has always looked a threat and loves to have a pop from all distances and angles. He does things early and wants to make things happen.

“As I say, it is good that he is over his injuries but our focus is totally on St Johnstone.”

The current Saints star man, Michael O’Halloran, has a chance of returning to the side after missing the Hamilton Accies game through injury. Richard Foster would appear a less likely starter, with Blair Alston definitely sidelined again.

Wright reported: “Blair will start training next week. It’s frustrating for him but everything is being done to get him back as quickly as possible.

“With that type of injury we need to make sure that he is 100% and that when he gets back, he stays back. He is over the worst of it now.

“Richard Foster has an outside chance of playing and he might be able to get on the grass with the physio today. If he gets that and then trains on Friday there is a chance. We’ll just need to wait and see in the next 24 hours.

“Michael O’Halloran will do some training on the grass with the team and if he has no reaction he will certainly come back into the plans.”

On-loan defender Keith Watson, meanwhile, has had better news than feared from the second scan on his injured knee.

“Hartlepool are looking after it and are doing a good job,” said Wright.

“They are hopeful that he might not need an operation and will try to rehab him for two or three weeks.

“If he is able to step up his work after that, he won’t require an op. The area damaged is a non-weight bearing area and you can often get away with that. As long as he is pain free, he will hopefully be able to get through it.

“But he is still going to be out for around three months. If he needs the op, he is looking at six months.”

Saints enjoyed success with a back three last weekend but that doesn’t mean it will be the same formation again tomorrow.

“Hamilton play a different system to Aberdeen,” said Wright.

“We have been reasonably successful against them when playing four at the back. We’ll work on a few things and make sure we are ready.

“They were a back four on Sunday but Derek (McInnes) might choose to set up a different way. Whatever happens we will be ready for it.

“It’s interesting to hear some of the comments about them and that they have struggled.

“I don’t think they have lost a game in the league. So if that is struggling then I would take it.

“They have good players and know the league. They have been the second best team quite easily for the past few seasons.

“It is one of the toughest places to go. We believe we can get points from every game we play.

“We’ve had some good battles with Aberdeen and there is a lot of respect between the two teams.

“We know it’s a difficult fixture and so do they.”

Stevie May joined Aberdeen last month.