Safety first for Maclean

ST JOHNSTONE

V PARTICK THISTLE

St Johnstone may have established themselves as a top-six Premiership club in recent seasons but striker Steven Maclean still remains wary of relegation.

The Perth side have finished in the top half of the table for six successive years.

Maclean admits the first half of this current campaign has been “hot and cold” as Saints sit in eighth place ahead of the visit of Partick Thistle today. And while a win could take them back into the top six, the 35-yearold is looking first for safety. He said: “If we get top six this season we will be delighted. First and foremost we have to secure our place in the Premiership.

“Let’s be honest, we’ve got to look no further. If you look at the league we are not guaranteed anything. That’s the way we have to look at it.”

Alan Archibald hopes his Partick squad will not be affected by a fresh bout of injury trouble.

The Jags boss – who has had to contend with a nightmare casualty list this term – admits he has a couple of niggles to worry about before the trip to Perth but is hopeful they will pull through.

Dannydevinereturnsfrom suspension but Gary Fraser, Stuart Bannigan (both knee) and Christie Elliott (ankle) remain on the sidelines.