Davidson reveals Saints close on new May deal
CALLUM DAVIDSON has confirmed that St Johnstone striker Stevie May is closing in on a new deal.
The two-time cup winning Saint has been in and out of Davidson’s starting XI all season, but his performances have triggered talks on a one-year extension to his current contract.
Speaking ahead of today’s Scottish Cup quarter final with Rangers, Davidson explained: “It has been quite a tough process. Covid makes things difficult. Stevie is virtually there so I’m hoping over the next couple of days we will have some really good news. It is great news for the club. He has been a massive part of St Johnstone’s history and I will be delighted to get him tied up.”
Ibrox was the scene for May’s greatest day when he fired two goals past Aberdeen to send Saints to their first ever major final. Davidson was in the dugout as Tommy Wright’s assistant that day and remembers it well. He continued: “I remember we switched him out to the left and he cut inside. We went to a front three that game.
“I have good memories at Ibrox against Aberdeen in the semi-final. Hopefully, we can create a few more memories on Sunday.”
St Johnstone meet champions Rangers for the second time in five days today after the pair shared the spoils in a Scottish Premiership clash on Wednesday. The Perth outfit more than held their own and snatched a point right at the death through a controversial Liam Craig penalty.
Davidson was impressed by his team’s showing and he has called on his players to show the bravery that has already secured a League Cup trophy this term.
Reflecting on his first season as a manager, he recalled: “It has probably been a bit up and down. I think Covid has been difficult and there have been a lot of challenges within that.
“The players have responded really well. At the start of the season, I was scratching my head a little at how well we were playing but not winning.
“The last four months have been fantastic. For the club itself to win a trophy during this current time has been fantastic, it’s just a pity we can’t share it with our supporters.
“Going into Sundays game I don’t think the pressure is off because as a group we want to do really well and we want to win. It is a game where Rangers are expected to win so we have nothing to lose going into it.
“All I ask of the players is to be really brave. What they have done so far with the League Cup has been really brave. They try and play with a positive mind set and hopefully we can try and do the same on Sunday.
“No matter what happens it has been phenomenal season. Do I want to win the game? Yeah, I do. But I think if we don’t it will still be an unbelievable season for St Johnstone.”
On the prospect of a cup double, Davidson added: “Winning the first trophy was brilliant. It was seven years since we got the last one.
“It will be a tough ask. We probably have the hardest draw out there at Ibrox as well. Rangers have been very good at Ibrox all season so hopefully they have a slight off day and we have a very good day.
“I know Rangers will probably play slightly differently on Sunday. They played a different formation against us on Wednesday.
“I don’t know but I imagine he will bring two or three players back in that will suit a different formation. We will look at that.
“I wouldn’t say I played my strongest team. When you look at the Motherwell game before the cup final I made three or four changes for the final. I want to win the game, but I have the possibility of making a couple of changes too.”