ST JOHNSTONE
IN: Elliot Parish (Dundee), Wallace Duffy (Celtic), Madis Vihmann (loan; Flora Tallinn).
OUT: Tony Watt (CSKA Sofia), Blair Alston (Hamilton), Brian Easton (Hamilton), Josh Doig (Hibernian), Aaron Comrie (Dunfermline), Joe Shaughnessy.
KEY MAN: ZANDER CLARK. The goalkeeper has been knocking on the door of callups to the Scotland national team and St Johnstone will be delighted to keep him between the sticks for another season. One of the best shot stoppers in the division.
KEY ADDITION: MADIS VIHMANN. Only one of three new players this summer so far but the loan signing from Estonia is a talented defender and will bring much-needed strength to a back line that has looked worryingly shaky in the Betfred Cup group stage.
THE failure to tie up a deal for Stevie May has compounded the early-season frustrations for St Johnstone. Tommy Wright’s threadbare squad desperately needs fresh blood and it showed in an early exit from the Betfred Cup. Saints lost three of their four group games and missed a hatful of chances in the process. With Tony Watt departing to Hungary, a move for one-time club hero May looked the ideal timely boost the Perth club required but it fell through. An injury to winger David Wotherspoon was another pre-season blow. A lack of transfer activity will have leave locals a little anxious at the start of this season, particularly in the striker department. However, Saints have established themselves in the Premiership and this is their 11th straight season in the top flight — a remarkable achievement in consistency for the club. Jason Kerr is ready to make the step up to club captain in the heart of defence. Scott Tanser is a full-back that continues to improve under Wright’s astute guidance. Murray Davidson has been one of the most reliable midfield operators in the top flight in recent years and is a man the club can depend upon yet again. The onus will be on Matty Kennedy and Michael O’Halloran to hit the ground running in the forward areas. Both have pace and skill but will have to chip in with more goals.