Wright gets his man as May returns to Saints.

SAINTS: 2014 Scottish Cup hero returns home on two-year deal

Tommy Wright’s patience and perseverance has paid off, with Stevie May’s return “home” to St Johnstone finally being completed.

The Perth boss admitted that bringing back his Scottish Cup hero from Aberdeen was his number one summer transfer priority.

“We didn’t give up on Stevie and we knew he hadn’t given up hope on the deal being resurrected,” said Wright yesterday.

“It’s taken a long time and I’ve aged a fair bit. You could say it was a birthday present for me. But it is a great present for the football club.

“The chairman worked hard to get it back on track and over the line. But Stevie was my number one target over the summer when we heard he might be available. That was no secret.

“His return will give the dressing room a real buzz and the fans a lift.” May, who agreed a two-year deal with an option for a third, said: “It brilliant to get everything over the line at last. It’s the right decision for me at this stage of my career.

“There was obviously some doubt about it but I always wanted to come back here and play for the manager. I’m just looking to getting back playing football on a ground I know well. It’s good to be back.”

Richard Foster was reluctant to discuss the details of his St Johnstone exit after returning to Ross County for a second spell in Dingwall.

A training ground incident led to a fallout with Perth boss Tommy Wright and Foster’s subsequent departure from McDiarmid Park.

The 34-year-old said: “I’m not going to talk about what went on. There have been different things documented in the press.

“I’m strong-willed, I speak my mind and probably sometimes I overstep the mark.

“If I believe in something and things happen differently then I find it very difficult to swallow that.

“There are times in my career when it has certainly held me back, but the managers here have expressed that they like that part of my character.”

Foster goes straight into County’s squad to face his old club Aberdeen at Pittodrie tomorrow.

He added: “In football, things change quickly, as we see here – I was training on Tuesday at St Johnstone and two days later I’m training at Ross County.

“I’m old enough now to know how to get on with it and hopefully get myself right for Saturday.”

Meanwhile, Saints will attempt to get their first league win of the season against a Kilmarnock side “in transition”.

“It’s basically the same group of players from last season,” said Wright.

“It’s a team with good players and they know how to win games.

“Maybe they are in transition in terms of having a new manager coming in. Coming into a club which has been very successful can be a difficult period for any manager.

“Do you keep it ticking along or do you go with your beliefs and how you want to play?

“It’s shaping up as a massive game for both teams, even this early in the season. We need to get our first win. It’s what every manager wants.

“I am expecting a tough game, whether Kilmarnock play silky football or are more dogged. We will have to wait and see.

“But my focus will be on our performance because if we get that right I know Kilmarnock will have to play extremely well to get a result.”

Picture: PPA. Stevie May at McDiarmid Park last night after completing his move from Aberdeen on a two-year contract.