MacLean to miss European away leg
St Johnstone’s Steven MacLean will miss out on the away leg of the Europa League first round qualifier.
Opponents FK Trakai play their football on an artificial pitch, a surface which the striker has been barred from playing on this season.
Forward partner Graham Cummins knows how much of a blow MacLean’s absence will be.
He said:“When you looked at the five possible opponents we could’ve played, Shamrock were probably the one we would know a lot about.
“One of the first things you look at is that Trakai play on astroturf.
“It means Macca might not be able to play which is a disappointment and a disadvantage to us.
“It’s a big blow because he has a lot of experience playing in Europe. When he is missing in the team it always effects us in a negative way.
“That is not only what he does on the pitch, but in the dressing room too. He is a character and gets the dressing room going.
“It’s the Europa League and you want to get through. You want your best team and every lad fit, especially at this stage of the season.”
Cummins is looking forward to his first venture abroad with Saints, having missed out on Armenia two years ago with injury.
“I didn’t have to do the Armenia trip because of an injury,”Cummins said.
“Having the draw regionalised is a much better idea. It makes sense financially and in terms of travel.
difficult so we have to make sure we are still in the tie.
“We know this competition can throw up shocks. We have done it ourselves against the likes of Rosenborg and Luzern, going out to lesser teams like Minsk, Trnava and Alashkert.
“We know it is going to be difficult but at least the heat shouldn’t be a problem this time.
“And it is a three hour flight which is good for us and for the fans.”
Perth forward Steven MacLean will be ruled out of the away leg on July 6 due to Trakai’s artificial surface.
Wright added:“The away leg is played on an artificial surface which isn’t ideal but apparently it is of good quality.
“It’s disappointing that Macca can’t play because of the artificial surface over there.
“But it would have been the same in the Faroes so he was ruled out of two of the five games that were possible.
“He will probably want to play but we have to deal with it.
“We have handled it before in Scotland.
“I will tell him to make sure he bangs in a couple of goals in the home leg.”
The draw for the second qualifying round was also conducted in Nyon, Switzerland yesterday.
If Saints advance they will come up against the winner of Sweden’s IFK Norrkoping or FC Prishtina from Kosovo. Steven MacLean