‘No lack of confidence at McDiarmid’, says MacLean

SAINTS: Striker points to Perth side’s record against champions last season

Celtic aren’t wanting for confidence coming into today’s clash with St Johnstone, but the same is true for the Perth side, according to striker Steven MacLean.

The former Aberdeen and Rangers man will clock up his 100th appearance for Saints in today’s lunchtime Premiership match.

With three goals to his name already this season, MacLean is at the top of his game – and so is the team.

“We’ve played some good stuff and are defending well also.

“We haven’t changed much on this running – we’re sticking to what we know,” MacLean said.

“If you look at our record against them last season, we beat them and in the other game at Perth was close.

“We had a few changes with one-on-ones when it was 1-0 but they score a couple of goals.”

He added: “Brendan Rodgers has been brought in to get them to the Champions League, so they are under a bit of pressure and might have an eye on Tuesday.

“But they are coming into the game absolutely flying.”

Maclean added: “You want to test yourself against the best and play in the big games.

“If you can’t get up for a game like that you shouldn’t be in football.”

The Premiership teams Saints have played so far – Aberdeen, Hearts and Motherwell – were all top six ones last season.

But as their post-split unbeaten record proved facing the strongest sides in Scotland usually brings out the best in Tommy Wright’s men.

“We’ve had a tough start, but we’ve spoken about it in the dressing room,” MacLean said.

“You might as well play these teams early and get them out of the way.

“If we are sitting here with another result against Celtic then we will have come through a few good sides and we’ll be in good shape going to Inverness.”

MacLean couldn’t fail to be impressed with the 5-2 win Celtic achieved in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier in midweek. “They were very good,” he said. “There was some amount of application and some really good play. “It was a good win. “It’s hard to tell where they are because they looked really good but you don’t know how good the other side were.

“They must be a decent side but we won’t know about Celtic until they come to Perth.”

Saints will be without Chris Millar, Keith Watson, Michael Coulson, Tam Scobbie and Dave Mackay.

Group Picture: SNS Saints striker Steven MacLean says the Perth side is playing with confidence just now, and hopes visitors Celtic will be distracted by Champions League business.