Stunned Wright calls on teenage keeper after Hurst’s sharp exit
LIVINGSTON V ST JOHNSTONE
St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright admits he was more than surprised when goalkeeper Mark Hurst revealed that he was quitting for the United States.
The 23-year-old had been back up in recent weeks to Cammy Bell, who had taken over from injured No 1 Zander Clark. But Hurst’s unexpected announcement last week has left Wright naming 17-year-old Ross Sinclair on the bench for the Ladbrokes Premiership trip to Livingston today.
Wright is pleased to welcome back defender Brian Easton from a groin injury which has kept him out since December 2017, however he was left perplexed by the decision from Hurst, who was contracted until the end of the season.
“At the end of last week Mark simply came into my office and announced he was taking himself off to the States,” said Wright. “To say that I was taken aback would be an understatement.
“It’s far from ideal at a time when we have Zander Clark injured too. Young Ross Sinclair will be on the bench tomorrow to replace Mark.”
St Johnstone, sitting in seventh place in the table, are without a win in their last eight games in all competitions but have twice beaten Livingston 1-0 this season.
For Wright, the return of Easton at least helped a little to lift the mood following Hurst’s sharp exit. “It’s great news to have Brian Easton back available for selection and he’ll make the squad of 20 for the firsttime since returning from injury,” added the manager.
“Whether he makes the 18, we’ll have to wait and see but the whole place has been buzzing to see him back involved.
“It was great to see him in there getting his first full 90 minutes from the reserves on Monday and he’s getting closer and closer every week.”
Livingston are 17 points clear of bottom club St Mirren but a late defeat by the Buddies last weekend has left manager Gary Holt determined to put any doubt about their topflight status to bed.
“We definitely have something to fight for because we ain’t safe,” admitted Holt.
“No-one has told me we are mathematically safe and I am actually quite good at maths, it’s one of my good subjects. So we need wins, we need points, and the sooner we can get that the better, and we can start looking above us.
“We look at the team above us and that’s Motherwell. If we can catch them, great, then we can look what’s above them.”