Blow for Saints as injury-hit Rooney to visit specialist

Shaun Rooney will be out for the “foreseeable future”, St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson has revealed. The double cup-winning hero has never fully recovered from the ankle injury he suffered against Livingston in mid-october.

And the problem will require further examination at the beginning of next week.

“He’s going to see a specialist about his ankle,” said Davidson.

“He’s been struggling for a wee while. Since he came off injured in the Livingston game he’s been aggravating it.

“We’ll get some news on Monday and hopefully it will be good news.

“But for the moment he’s going to be out for the foreseeable future.”

Rooney, pictured, is not the only Saints player sidelined with an ankle injury.

Craig Bryson will get his operation on Monday and then be out for around six weeks thereafter.

With their

Scottish Cup defence beginning at Kelty tomorrow and a bottom v second bottom Premiership clash with Dundee to follow, Davidson will not let his squad dwell on this latest setback.

“Shaun’s a big character and personality in the dressing room and a big player on the pitch,” he said. “But for me it’s all about other players stepping up to the mark and showing me they want to play, not by words but by actions.

“Training has been really good and the attitude has been fantastic since we’ve come back.

“First half at Hearts we played like the old St Johnstone, I thought.

“There were signs of improvement – things I hadn’t seen in a wee while.

“We had energy and belief and there was character about the team. We were better in and without possession.

“With a few more additions we’ll have a strong squad to get us through to the end of the season.”

St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson is hopeful that a couple of new signings are imminent. The Perth boss has cast his net near and far in an attempt to add to his squad, with Alan Forrest of Livingston the latest target to get a namecheck.

Davidson was reluctant to go into too much detail about that potential deal but did report that broader progress is being made after the Mcdiarmid Park club’s transfer business had slowed down following the initial new year flurry of activity.

“I think I’m getting linked with everybody just now but I would never comment on somebody else’s player,” he said.

“There are two or three ongoing just now so I’m hoping to get them over the line.

“Again, it’s always difficult in January.

“Agents can give you players who aren’t quite up to speed or available when you think they are.

“Hopefully we can get one or two by the end of this week.

“I just want to get them as soon as I can.

“It’s about bringing in somebody to be better and to make a difference.

“There’s no point just bringing in a squad player.

“We need somebody to challenge to play in the first team.”

Davidson added: “People know we’ve got funds to spend but it’s difficult because it’s getting the right balance between what the signings are worth and what you think they’ll bring to the team.

“People do just start asking for more money.

“We’re not really a club that are flush with cash either. But it’s not just me, there are other clubs and managers going through the same thing.

“It can be difficult to see the bigger picture sometimes but I’ve got a clear vision of where we want to go and who we want to bring in.”

Meanwhile, Davidson is well aware of the danger tomorrow’s Scottish Cup clash with high-flying Kelty Hearts carries – but also the reward victory against them could bring.

“I’m delighted to hear it’s

sell-out and we’ve sold out our allocation so thanks to the St Johnstone fans for coming to support us,” he said.

“We have to make sure we give them something to cheer on Saturday and we will be going out with a professional attitude.

“It is a really, really important game for our season.

“It could give the team that little bit of confidence.

“I’m taking this game really, really seriously and the players know that themselves.

“Hopefully we can get a result and give our fans something to cheer about and then build a bit of momentum going into the league game.”

CUP: Callum Davidson will send his squad out to face high-flying Kelty Hearts tomorrow.