O’halloran set to face Accies even if ankle injury has not fully healed

Johnstone manager Tommy Wright is ready to throw Michael O’halloran back into action against Hamilton even if he is not 100 per cent fit.

The on-loan Rangers forward has been a key figure for the Perth side, with five goals already this campaign, but was pictured wearing a protective boot earlier this week after injuring his ankle during last weekend’s defeat at Dundee.

Wright is desperate to field the 26-year-old, pictured, for tomorrow’s visit of Accies and says he could feature even if he is not totally recovered.

“We’ve had a look at Michael and hopefully he will train [today],” said the Saints boss. “He has done well since he came back in and we want him fit because he’s an important player for us.

“We were disappointed he picked up the injury last week and had to come off.

“We felt he probably didn’t get enough protection but that was last week’s game and we’ll deal with the situation this Saturday, whether Michael is fit or not. If he’s fit, he will play. Even if he’s 90 per cent fit and wants to play, he will. But he still has some work to do to make sure he is available.”

Saints’ unbeaten start to the league season ended at Dens Park as Wright’s men suffered a controversial 3-2 loss. The Northern Irishman was scathing about referee Alan Muir’s display after he chalked off a Steven Anderson goal late in the second half and seconds later awarded a disputed penalty to the hosts.

Wright says he will not be using his sense of injustice to fire up his players ahead of facing Hamilton after admitting were just as much to blame for their first league defeat.

He said: “I think the footage has shown we were on the wrong end of the refereeing decisions – but that can happen.butweneedtodobetteras well. We can’t be blaming the referee. They are there to do a job but sometimes they don’t get it right. What I can change is how well we did and last week we didn’t do well.

“The bottom line is that it’s not just been me. The players haven’t been happy with some of our recent performances.”