The latest from mcdiarmid park STRIKINGTHE RIGHT DEAL Davidson keen to tie up his out-of-contract players

They have lost just once in their last nine matches.

And St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson hopes that positive run of form will help shuffle along new deals for some of his Perth stars. A number of contracts run out in the summer and the Saints boss, encouraged by recent results, is keen to tie down more of his squad.

David Wotherspoon was the latest to sign an extended deal at McDiarmid Park earlier this month. Stevie May, Guy Melamed, Chris Kane, Michael

O’Halloran, Liam Craig, Murray Davidson, Craig Bryson, Charlie Gilmour, Craig Conway, Scott Tanser, Callum Booth and Elliott Parish are all contracted to the end of the season.

“The positive results give me the opportunity to try and nail down most of my squad,” Davidson said.

“Hopefully we get deals done pretty soon.

“You never know what players’ ambitions may be. Some might not be happy with not getting enough game-time.

“It’s a good, strong squad but I think that every player knows that I trust them to play. That is a big thing for them.

“I trust all of them no matter who comes in to play and we’ve seen it all season.

“Chris Kane has performed to a really high level and we’ve been left with no choice but to keep him in the team.

“There are a lot of players who have been good and that makes it difficult.

“Look at Liam Craig on Saturday. He hadn’t started for four or five games, but came in and produced the goods for me. It’s a real good balance in the squad and hopefully we’ll get most tied up soon.”

Davidson has guided Saints right back into top six contention, helped by ending Livingston’s 14-game unbeaten run on Saturday.

“It’s been brilliant since Aberdeen on Boxing Day,” he said of results. “We could have got something out of the Rangers game.

“It’s a strange one because for me we’re not playing as well but are picking up really good results.

“On Saturday I thought they were superb with their combative play and how they coped with Livingston.

“We got goals at really good times which helps. We’re doing better in both boxes, from set-plays and defending crosses.

“I still think we can do better on the ball at times and be more clinical.

“But we limited Livingston to very few chances.

“When we missed the penalty I knew we’dmaybeconcedeachance. Could we have done better at their goal? Probably.

“But I thought we saw the game out well. The back three defended their box brilliantly.”

Shaun Rooney had nodded in the second of the afternoon with another terrific leap.

Rooney has been in fine form and Davidson said: “Shaun said after the game he’s not very good in the air and misjudges the flight of the ball half the time. But he’s doing alright!

“He can carry on misjudging the ball for it to go off his head and into the top corner. I’ll be happy with that.

“Shaun has given us another dimension. There are things he can get better at and he knows that himself.

“He has a great attitude and wants to learn. There is good competition in that position.”

Saints are back in training and focused on this weekend’s home match withCeltic. Heavyovernightsnowon Monday was hopefully not going to disrupt training plans too much.

“We’ll try to make sure we can get an area for the lads to train,”Davidson said.

“I imagine it’s going to be the astro this week with the temperatures dropping - and the snow. We’re bracing ourselves a wee bit.”

Meanwhile, Premiership rivals Kilmarnock yesterday named legendary St Johnstone manager TommyWright as their new boss.

The Northern Irishman was in charge for seven special years in Perth - a Scottish Cup win included - before packing his bags in May last year.

He has been out of the game ever since but is now tasked with helping the Ayrshire side move away from relegation danger.