Willock keen on return to Saints

ST JOHNSTONE: Midfielder refuses to rule out switch back to McDiarmid

Matty Willock is keen on a return to St Johnstone next season.

But the young Manchester United midfielder does not yet know if a second spell at McDiarmid Park fits in with the plans his parent club have for him.

The loan signing has been an impressive performer for Saints of late and had it not been for Steven MacLean’s hat-trick at Fir Park he would have been a man of the match contender at the weekend.

Willock is determined to sign off with wins against Hamilton Accies tonight and Ross County on Saturday and he will then explore the possibility of coming back for the start of the new campaign.

“I would like to come back next season but it is difficult at the moment,” he said. “I need to speak to United and see what plans they have.

“I’m sure they have a few more important players to think about. But I feel the manager has helped me a lot and the players here have helped me improve.”

Willock continued: “I will definitely go back to United a better player, 100%. I have learned a lot from players like Macca and Murray. They are both good players and talk a lot to me.

“Murray and I are similar but it’s good to play with him because I can learn from him.

“Les Parry has been up from United and watched the last game. He gives me feedback and advice. He also gives me a lot of criticism when he thinks I can improve on a few things and that’s good. As a young player I need that.

“I would love to come back but it is up to United.”

The 21-year-old has started Saints’ last three matches after a spell of substitute appearances and watching games from the stand.

“I feel I have been making slow steps and improving,” said Willock.

“I was in a difficult position before coming here because I wasn’t playing much football in Holland. It took me a few games to adjust, going straight from that into the Scottish game.

“Early on you saw glimpses of the player I am but I have settled in now and want to show everyone I am a good player. It was a lot slower in Holland, more tactical than here and definitely less physical.

“If you run out of position to press, and I like to do that, it can be seen as a bad thing over there.

“The style of Scottish football definitely suits me a lot better. I prefer to watch one man and match his runs.

“There will be lot of focus on Scottish football next season with Steven Gerrard arriving. It is great for the game here.

“As a United player I have modelled my game more on Paul Scholes but he is a legend.”

Willock added: “We want to finish the season on a high and I think we can get that seventh place now. The confidence in the team is high. I don’t see why we can’t finish with another two wins.

“As professional footballers, everyone wants to win whatever the game is. That is the mentality you have.

“It feels bad when you lose no matter what stage of the season it is so everyone will be up for it.”

Danny Willock insists his loan spell at McDiarmid will stand him in good stead on his return to Man Utd.