DJKNEEINJURYIS ASPLITDECISION
St Johnstone manager Craig Levein has revealed DJ Jaiyesimi is unlikely to feature for his team before the Premiership split next month.
The on-loan Charlton wide player will miss up to six weeks of action due to knee ligament damage sustained in the recent 1-1 home draw with Livingston.
The Perth boss (right) has, however, insisted he will not be dwelling on unavailable players as his side prepare to face champions Celtic in Glasgow on Saturday.
“We’ll just have to get on with it just now and he’ll be back with us when he’s ready,” said Levein.
“It’s looking like four to six weeks.
“It’s a waste of time dwelling on it and thinking about who we haven’t got.
“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.”
In a defensive boost, club captain Liam Gordon will be available for the trip to Celtic Park after recovering ● from a head injury in his last outing against Livi.
However, it will be towards the back end of the season before Saints fans see the likes of Drey Wright and Cammy Macpherson take to the pitch.
“Liam’s fine now. He trained on Monday,” added the manager.
“Other than DJ, Drey and Cammy, all the rest should be fine.
“Drey and Cammy are coming along really well actually.
“We’ll see both of them this season for sure.
“I haven’t been able to use Drey at all and Cammy was looking good before he got injured.”
Saints face a second two-week gap between games this month following the Celtic fixture, with Dundee visiting Mcdiarmid Park on Saturday, March 30.
“We had a free weekend there and there’s another one coming up after this game,” Levein added.
“So it’s a bit of a stop-start spell. “That’s another thing we just have to deal with.” healed up and I can get back to it. I am trying to get ready for the start of the season.
“It was only last week where I could start chipping again.
“I think within the next couple of weeks I should hopefully be back on the golf course.
“I am really looking forward to getting back to it.”
Connor’s time in Spain meant he was unable to attend the 2023 Perth and Kinross Sports Awards where he was named Young Sports Personality of theyear for the third time.
Last year was a memorable one for the talented teenager, who became the youngest-ever Walker Cup participant and was also in the winning European Junior Ryder Cup team.
Excited to push his game to the next level, Connor has also earned a prestigious scholarship at Texas Tech University and will jet out later this year.
“It is a huge honour and is a good achievement again to win Young Sports Personality for the third year,”he added.