Anderson is ruled out as

STEVEN ANDERSON’S European curse has struck again.

The veteran St Johnstone skipper has been ruled out of the Europa League qualifiers with FK Trakai.

A scan on his damaged knee yesterday revealed severe bone bruising and he’s sidelined for more than a month.

Two years ago the 31-year-old defender missed the away trip to face Armenians Alashkert with a ligament strain and had to be subbed in the return leg after a flailing elbow left him with a gruesome fractured eye socket.

And that leaves manager Tommy Wright facing another Euro defensive crisis for the clash with the Lithuanians.

Anderson was sent for the scan after limping out of a midweek 0-0 closed doors clash with Rangers, with Wright branding the tackle from Gers midfielder Ryan Jack “poor.”

Wright said: “The news is mixed. It’s a real setback that Ando wont be available for the Trakia games and beyond.

“But on the plus side it’s not as serious as we had feared and he should be ready for the start of the league campaign.”

Wright lost cover defender Tam Scobbie to Dundee United after he failed to agree terms on a new deal, and leftback Brian Easton has a groin injury.

On the postive side, Wright reckons Stefan Scougall won’t just improve St Johnstone – he’ll improve the Premiership.

Wright’s top summer-transfer target joined up with his new team-mates last week at their St Andrews training camp.

The former Sheffield United star’s fitness is rapidly improving, and the 24-year-old has already shown enough in training to convince Wright he will