Wright hopes for Swanson boost

ST JOHNSTONE: Saints boss looking forward to return of Saints’ playmaker

Tommy Wright is hoping that the return of Danny Swanson will enhance his St Johnstone team’s chances of extending their long unbeaten run.

The playmaker hasn’t had much game time since arriving back at McDiarmid Park for a third spell, and didn’t make the matchday squad in Aberdeen last weekend. But the former Hibs, and Dundee United man could be available for the visit of Motherwell tomorrow as Saints seek to make it nine games in a row without defeat, and seven wins in that period.

“Danny picked up a knee injury and hurt it again against Kilmarnock,” said Wright.

“He only trained on the Thursday and Friday but I didn’t think that was enough to make him ready for Aberdeen.

“He needs a full week and hopefully he’ll get that and be available for Motherwell.

“Having Danny still to come back and play his part is something to look forward to.”

Meanwhile, it is a case of so far so good with Brian Easton’s latest comeback bid.

“Everything has gone as we would have hoped since his second injection,” said Wright.

“He hasn’t had to stop at any point.

“If things keep progressing we should know by the end of the month when he would be looking for him to come back. All going well, that could be after the January break.”

Saints defender Richard Foster said the confidence flowing through the team was built from the back.

He said: “These records are good to be part of and getting to where we are in the league is a good achievement with the teams we’ve played.

“This year the league is very competitive so to go eight games, with the chance to go nine unbeaten, is a great achievement for the club. Long may it continue.

“Good results and clean sheets build confidence. We’ve all got great confidence in each other, even if we make a mistake.

“I know if I make a mistake Jason Kerr is there to cover, if he makes a mistake Joe Shaughnessy is there and so on.

“If the opposition get by us all, then Zander Clark is there to help out.

“There’s a determination not to lose cheap goals and that has stood us in good stead to move on and take three points in most of the games.

“We defend as a whole team and have done well in the last eight games to not concede many goals.

“With the players we’ve got in the team, when you’re not conceding goals you always give yourself a chance of winning the game.

“There is depth in the squad and a quality throughout. Hopefully we can continue to keep clean sheets to give attacking players the chance to win us games.”