St Johnstone forward Jaiyesimi gets fresh injury return timescale

DJ Jaiyesimi looks highly likely to play again for St Johnstone before the end of the season.

And he could even be back before the Premiership split.

Manager Craig Levein reported that an early prognosis of knee ligament damage for the on-loan Charlton Athletic man has been confirmed.

But the 25-year-old hasn’t sustained a seasonfinishing injury.

“It’s looking like four to six weeks,” said Levein.

“We’ll just have to get on with it and he’ll be back with us when he’s ready.

“It’s a waste of time dwelling on it and thinking about who we haven’t got available.

“DJ’s done well for us and we’ll miss him.

“It’s sod’s law that he’s picked up this injury in the game after the Aberdeen match, when he did so well for us off the left.

“In terms of up front we’ve got Nicky (Clark) back. And there’s Adama (Sidibeh), Benji (Kimpioka) and Stevie (May).

“So we’ve got options there. But we don’t have someone with the same attributes as DJ.”

Liam Gordon has now recovered fully from his double head knock in the draw with Livingston and will be available for Saturday’s clash with Celtic.

“Liam’s fine now,” said Levein. “He trained today.

“Other than DJ, Drey (Wright) and Cammy (MacPherson), all the rest should be fine.”

The Saints’ schedule for March includes two free weekends, which represents a big change in rhythm compared to January and February.

“It’s a bit of a stop-start spell,” said Levein.

“But that’s another thing we just have to deal with.”

Saints starlet Fran

Franczak has taken to Premiership football like a duck to water.

But the 16-yearold midfielder has revealed that his topflight career began with a funny touchline misunderstanding.

With Saints 2-0 down at Easter Road in September, Franczak was given the nod from then manager, Steven MacLean, to make his Saints debut as a 75th minute replacement for Cammy MacPherson.

Before becoming the McDiarmid Park club’s youngest-ever player, there was a mix-up with fourth official Dan McFarlane that the Highland Perthshire youngster will never forget.

“It was a pretty funny moment,” Franczak recalled.

“The fourth official put his hand out to check my boots and I gave him a high five because I thought he was wishing me luck to go on!”

After the recordbreaking debut came a gap of nearly two months before Franczak next got game-time – the reverse fixture against Hibs.

On this occasion it was under a new manager, Levein, and from the start.

He lasted 84 minutes before being substituted and when the Saints players were taking the applause of the home supporters after a 1-0 victory, the senior pros made sure local boy, Franczak, was front and centre.

“It was incredible,” he told Saints TV. “Everyone was standing, clapping.

“I don’t know how to explain it.

“My dad was almost in tears after the game.

“All my friends came and there were people from my old team, Letham, at the game.

“It really was amazing.”

Diallang Jaiyesimi is helped off against Livingston.