WRIGHT BELIEVES SCOUGALL CAN LIGHT UP LEAGUE
TOMMY WRIGHT has hailed the acquisition of Stefan Scougall as a coup not only for St Johnstone but the wider Scottish game. The capture of Scougall, a free agent following his release from English League One champions Sheffield United, was Wright’s summer priority as he sought to replace the creative void left by the departure of Danny Swanson to Hibernian.
Six years younger than Swanson at 24, Wright suspects he has pulled off a neat piece of business in securing a forward-thinking midfielder who attracted the interest of Arsenal when he first burst on to the scene as a teenager at Livingston.
‘From what I have seen in training, I think Stefan will bring something not only to our team but something to the league as well,’ said Wright. ‘He’s strong, he’s quick, he has very good feet. He goes past people very well and he’s one of those players that will get people on the edge of their seats.
‘I think the league will suit him. I have watched some League One football and it’s 6ft 3in giants, hit the ball long, getting up to the second ball. There’s nothing wrong with that but, for a player of his type and his stature, I don’t think that’s where he can get the best out of himself.
‘Scottish football will help him because I do think there is more football played.
‘I have followed his career since he was at Livingston. He has improved since he went down to England, but he could score more goals. That will be a target for him.’
The conclusion of the Scougall transfer has eased the tension between Wright and chairman Steve Brown, whom the manager called out last weekend over his failure to retain valued squad player Tam Scobbie on a new contract.
Scobbie dropped a division to sign for Dundee United and followed up on Wright’s pronouncement to reveal that he had been offered a 35-per-cent wage cut to stay with Saints.
That particular issue apart, Wright seems satisfied that the club is ready to back him in his quest to continue the team’s form for being competitive in the top half of the Premiership. He added: ‘We have shown our intent by bringing Scougall in and I think there will be more to come.
‘The chairman wants to strengthen the team and to do that we are going to have bring in a bit more quality.
‘We’ll be patient and make sure the next one or two we bring in will make the team better. We have to sign players to make that starting XI better.
‘Aberdeen have kept one of the best managers they have had and it looks as if they are going to splash the cash. Derek (McInnes) has earned that right.
‘Celtic are another level, Rangers have spent, I am sure Hearts will look to improve and Hibs are coming back into the league. A lot of people would say there is only one place up for grabs in the top six.
‘I’d probably say there are four places up for grabs. We can still be in there fighting.’
Scougall is slightly behind his team-mates, who have an extra week’s pre-season training in their legs going into Thursday’s Europa League tie against FK Trakai of Lithuania in Perth.
Wright expects to name Scougall on the bench for the first leg but he could be in contention to start in Vilnius a week later.
‘He’ll definitely be ready for the second game,’ said Wright.
‘He finished at the start of May in England, so he’s had a longer break and his fitness will be a wee bit off.
‘The danger is you push him to get fit for this one game in Europe and he breaks down. We’ve just got to be cautious with him.’