The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Wright choice not wrong
Saints: MacLean says Tommy pursuit is a no-brainer for Northern Ireland
St Johnstone attacker Steven MacLean knows he could soon lose his manager, saying it would be a “no-brainer” for Northern Ireland to come calling for Tommy Wright as Michael O’Neill’s replacement.
The Saints players have been happy to see their manager’s work go under the radar in the last four years but MacLean says the link with the Northern Ireland job “feels a bit different”.
O’Neill is expected to quit after narrowly failing to make the World Cup finals and Wright is the hot favourite to succeed him. Former Don MacLean said: “We’re not stupid. If Michael O’Neill goes, Northern Ireland would be silly to not look at our manager. It’s been reported that he is the favourite and he definitely deserves a big job.
“That’s not saying we want him to go but, like I say, he deserves it. And he would probably be good at it. It does feel a bit different this time.
“If you look back at the Dundee United one, we were in a better situation than them. This one seems to tick all the boxes. It would be difficult for him to turn down.
“He played for Northern Ireland, he was an assistant to Michael and he’s done his own job well with us.
“You know that he’d be good at it because he’d motivate them and he’s very good at working out how opposition teams will play and getting tactics right.
“It’s a no-brainer from their point of view. It sounds like I’m trying to get him the job.”
He added: “Obviously, we want him to stay. Michael O’Neill has probably got the choice of a few jobs. It’s a case of watch this space.”
Saints face Hibs at Easter Road this afternoon, having had a bit of an “old school” work-out during the international break to try and get their season back on track.
“Last week we had a bit of old-school training, which I think we needed,” said MacLean. “It was back to basics. We got a bit of a bleaching. There was quite a lot of running. There’s nothing wrong with that. It was probably what was required.”
MacLean has experienced goal droughts like the one Saints are enduring but also how quickly they can end.
He added: “I’m sure we’ll start creating chances again and if we do that we’ll score goals.”
Brian Easton is out but Michael O’Halloran, Chris Millar, Stefan Scougall and Murray Davidson may all be available.
“Tommy is the favourite for it and he deserves to have a big job”