The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Wright still hopeful over new deal for Davidson
ST JOHNSTONE boss Tommy Wright has revealed that the club have been in talks throughout the summer with Murray Davidson and his agent Gary Mackay.
Davidson was offered a new deal at McDiarmid last season but he turned it down and was expected to move either to England or Rangers.
However, the 25-year-old midfielder is still without a club and Wright hasn’t given up hope that he will opt to return to St Johnstone.
ST JOHNSTONE boss Tommy Wright is looking for more Nigel Hasselbaink “havoc” when Saints face Rosenborg in the second leg of their Europa League qualifier at McDiarmid Park on Thursday night.
The Dutch forward was outstanding in Trondheim last week, as he gave the home defence a torrid time with his dangerous running before being handed a well-earned rest when he was replaced in the 66th minute by Gwion Edwards.
And Wright believes Hasselbaink and Saints are reaping the rewards for all the hard work the player put in during preseason.
The manager said: “The only position some people might think we took a risk with (in Norway) was starting with Nigel up front along with Stevie MacLean, but that isn’t the way I saw it.
“He has come back in pre-season and worked harder than I have ever seen him graft before. Nigel found some of the work really difficult last year and maybe didn’t push himself as hard as others in the squad.
“But he has returned with a really positive attitude and he has got his reward.
“I had a wee chat with him first day back and told him I wanted him to be in my team. I know he is difficult to play against and he can hurt teams.
“He gets defenders on the back foot and can create havoc. You could see Rosenborg were wary of him.
“I have told him I want to concentrate on his positives rather dwell on any negatives. Hopefully he has taken confidence from that.
“I trust him on the pitch and he has responded really well. I was never going to get 90 minutes out of him in a game like that in Norway but I was really pleased what he gave us. Nigel and then Gwion with his pace gave us an outlet.”
Wright admitted that he is doubly pleased with Hasselbaink’s efforts as he had slight concerns about how the 22-year-old would cope with the departure of his “big brother” Gregory Tade from McDiarmid Park for Romanian side Cluj earlier this month. The pair were inseparable while at Saints. The manager said: “After Gregory signed for Cluj, he sent me a text saying, ‘Make sure you look after my wee pal Nigel’. I was a bit worried how Nigel would react to his mate leaving for Romania. At times, you’d have thought they were joined at the hip.
“Nigel doesn’t drive so Paddy Cregg has been giving him lifts in and out. He’s taken Nigel under his wing.
“Maybe in a way losing his pal Gregory has even helped Nigel. The lads all like him but maybe he is more part of the group now.
“The staff certainly see a difference in him. Listen, he is a year older as well. Nigel is only 22 and people sometimes forget that.
“He is still a baby in football terms. He knows there are bits to his game he has to work on. But he is someone I would like to have in the team.
“I felt he was unlucky against Rosenborg on one occasion when he slipped in the penalty box when he was in a good position. The chairman tells me he is going to buy him a set of studs for the game onThursday!”
Wright admitted he is unsure how the Norwegian side, who will arrive in Perth trying to overcome Saints’-one-goal first-leg advantage, will approach Thursday’s game.
However, no matter what they throw at his side, the McDiarmid manager is certain he has the players with the qualities to succeed.
“Remember Rosenborg have a great record in European football and last season they made it through three qualifying rounds and a play-off to reach the group stage where they had another half dozen games.
“It will be interesting to see how they approach the match in Perth. Will they be cautious and hope to nick a goal and then go on the front foot or do they open up from the start?
“But I think we are battle-hardened in terms of the SPL. We don’t know when to give up and that is a great quality. These lads don’t know how to accept defeat and they also know what it takes to win away from home at difficult venues.
“You hope to sign players with those qualities but you can’t instill it in them. It has to be in their character and mentality.
“This club’s success in recent years has been based on teams being really hard to beat. Derek McInnes probably set the ball rolling when he got them into the SPL and Steve Lomas carried it on.
“There has been a strong work ethic and a good defensive record to build on.”