Hero Joe hopes to stay put in Perth

ST JOHNSTONE skipper Joe Shaughnessy used his moment in the spotlight to remind manager Tommy Wright he’d rather like an offer to remain part of the quiet revolution currently being worked at McDiarmid Park.

The Irishman pounced a minute from time to earn a fourth straight win for the Perth side and propel them to fifth spot in the Premiership table.

Shaughnessy’s current deal runs out at the end of the season and he has not been approached by the club as yet, but he certainly likes the feel of what is building there.

‘I am out of contract at the end of the season and nothing has been said so far,’ reported the 26-year-old. ‘I haven’t pushed for anything and they haven’t approached me.

‘I am just waiting to see. There is no rush. I am pretty happy here. I am enjoying every week and enjoying the way the team is looking. The manager has got a younger squad together over the summer and it seems like we could have a good future here with a good core of lads.

‘When I first came in, it was maybe coming to the end of that older squad and, as it has turned out, I am probably one of the more experienced ones now.

‘The manager has tried to freshen it up a bit and change the way we play. We have a brand new front three and we maybe look a bit more threatening going forward.

‘I hope we continue to get what we deserve out of that.’

Shaughnessy is in doubt, though, that they deserved their win yesterday — especially as they missed a penalty through Danny Swanson on 66 minutes.

‘I think we did well, defended when we had to, limited them to shots outside the box and knew if we got a chance or a set-piece that we have the players to attack it,’ he said.

‘That’s the last three penalties we have missed, but we are confident of getting a clean sheet and we knew we would get another chance. I helped Swanny out there.

‘We played pretty well and the lads up front created a bit. It is a good win for us.

‘After the 10 days in which we lost a few and shipped a few goals, people outside the club maybe thought we would start sliding away, but, as it turns out, we have had a pretty good start to the season. It is a chance for us to kick on now.’

Having got themselves ahead of the likes of Hibs and Aberdeen into fifth, Saints now have five of their next six games at home.

‘We’ll get the results we deserve if we keep putting in the performances,’ said Shaughnessy. ‘It suits me that we don’t often get a mention. That is fine with us. We go about our business and do what we need to do. It doesn’t affect us.’