Drey is glad to be back on the Wright road
Drey Wright had just laid down roots in Scotland when they were scythed out from beneath him. But one year on, the St Johnstone wide man is standing tall again. Wright was Saints’ brightest star as they flew out of the traps last season.
Having just moved north from Colchester United, it was a dream start to life in Scotland for the 24- year- old, who settled quickly in Perth with partner, Lucy, and son, Marshall.
But after an anterior cruciate ligament injury ended his season last November, Wright had to endure nine months of intensive rehab. Since returning to action in August, the Englishman has already re-established himself in Tommy Wright’s side. However, the humble star is confident his best is yet to come.
“I feel I am doing OK. It was always going to be a kind of slow progression, and I am trying not to put too much pressure on myself to go and do certain things,” said Wright.
“I know it will take time to get back to the kind of levels I know I can get to. But I am getting there.
“The first couple of weeks back, you are buzzing about the place because it’s been so long. “For a few other boys that have been playing every day, it could be a bit of a drag for them.
“But I’m not there yet. There’s still a lot more to come.
“There are little things that bother you. You maybe think you are turning that last corner but there’s still frustration.
“That’s because you sometimes think: ‘ Yeah, I could’ve done this or that, and would’ve done this or that, if I was at the level I was at before’. But I know it will come.”
Timing wise, Wright’s injury against Kilmarnock, could not have been more inconvenient.
“We just moved house three weeks before,” he explained.
“We’d been renting, then we bought a house. It was just before Christmas so it put any plans we had on hold as I couldn’t really walk about.
“It was fine, though. It was easier, I guess, to have that family time over Christmas and spend time there. But I’d obviously rather have been fit and playing games.
“It was tough not being involved.”
As happy as wright is to be back in the thick of it, Saints’ results have been, in the main, difficult to enjoy. However, he believes the Perth side, who face Aberdeen today, aren’t far away from putting together a trademark, top-six campaign.
“It’s minor details that will help us,” said Wright. “We’ve won two games in the league this season, and are just two wins away from being top six.
“Teams are not getting away from us, no matter how poor we’ve been.
“So if we can turn a corner, the table could look a lot different in a short space of time. “Especially from now into December, there are lots of games and we can be sitting in a far better situation in a few weeks.
“There is certainly no cause for panic.”