Wright hopes O’Halloran can play through pain barrier

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright is hoping that Michael O’Halloran will be able to play through the pain barrier against Celtic on Saturday.

Without a goal in their last five games, it would be a big boost for the Perth side if the on-loan Rangers forward was back in the starting line-up for the visit of the league leaders.

“Michael O’Halloran is a major concern,” said Wright.

“He is still complaining of discomfort in his ankle. He won’t train in the early part of the week and we will assess him again.

“Hopefully Michael can put up with the discomfort and decide he can play through it. Having spoken to the medical team here he wouldn’t be doing it any lasting damage and then we have the international break to help out.

“The other argument is that if we don’t play him against Celtic then he has the break to get ready for Hibs.

“It’s not looking great at this stage but we have a few more days before we have to make a decision. We will just have to wait and see how he responds. I am not ruling him out but ultimately it is one of those injuries which will come down to how Michael feels about playing.”

The pre-Celtic injury list is getting worse, rather than better, at the moment.

Murray Davidson has now joined O’Halloran, Brian Easton and Stefan Scougall on the doubts list.

“Easton is going for a scan (Wednesday) on his knee and I am expecting disappointing news,” Wright reported.

“He will definitely be out for Saturday and probably for a few weeks. He has also been having problems with his groin so we will use the time to get an injection to help him.

“Davidson could come back into training later in the week but he and Stefan Scougall are major doubts. So right now I am preparing as if we will be without all four for the Celtic game.

“But we have a decent squad of players here. This is part and parcel of the game and there’s no point moaning about it.

“Scott Tanser is the natural replacement for Easton and he came in and did well against Partick. We have tightened up at the back and looked a lot more solid. We are still getting into good positions but we have to be more clinical.

“Celtic totally outclassed the second best team in the league at the moment when they went to Aberdeen. No one expects us to do anything so we might as well have a go.”