The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Defender on track for an early return from injury
Wright expects Anderson to be fit for European opener
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright is optimistic that influential defender Steven Anderson will be fit for the Perth club’s entry into Europe.
The first leg of their Europa League first qualifyng round takes place on July 2, with the draw being held on Monday.
Wright had feared Anderson may not have been able to travel to Ireland for next week’s pre-season training camp after his summer tidy- up ankle operation, which would have made him a serious doubt for the start of their season.
But new club physio Scott Williams has given Wright some good news.
“Ando will hopefully start training next week. His clean-up op has worked. There’s been no reaction to it. I thought he might not come to Ireland with us, but it now looks like he will.
“Talking to Ando and our new physio, Scott, they’re both confident he’ll be fit for the first leg of our Europa tie.”
Dave Mackay’s recovery is also on schedule, but his hip operation was more serious and the recovery period longer.
Wright said: “Cuptie is still away, but he’s making good progress. He’s off the crutches and he’s got a programme to do. He comes back on the 24th.
“We don’t want to jump the gun but everything’s going nicely with him.
“We’ll get a better idea when his workload increases but at the moment it’s as we thought – three months from when he got operated on. We have to be careful with his recovery.”
Alan Mannus returns midway through the Irish training camp, while another honeymooner, Graham Cummins, will meet up with his new team-mates on Sunday.
On the change of physio, Wright explained: “Michael (McBride) has left us and I wish him well. Scott worked at Man City’s academy. He’s been involved with rugby and other sports as well. He lives in Auchterarder. We’ve been trying for a few years to get a local physio, which is a bonus.”
Meanwhile, Steve Banks has agreed to stay as the club’s goalkeeping coach.
Wright – himself a former international keeper– believes the ex-Dundee United man is one of the best specialist coaches in Scottish football, and retaining his services was a summer priority.
Good staff is important, and I didn’t want to lose him,” he said.
“Goalkeeper and goalkeeping coach is an important relationship. Alan will be delighted he’s staying because they have a great relationship, and he’ll be important for Zander as well.
“The downside of letting Zander go out on loan was he didn’t train with us every day. Banksy can go on to coach at the highest level. I rate him that highly.”