St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas’s declaration that one of his imminent priorities is tying Kevin Moon up on a new contract is music to the Perth midfielder’s ears.
Moon’s six-month deal is due to expire at the end of the year, but Lomas has already decided that the 24-year-old is a key member of his squad and he doesn’t see any point in letting things slide.
As far as the player himself is concerned, he definitely wants to his extend his stay at McDiarmid Park.
Moon said: ”Hopefully we can get it all sorted out quickly. I just want it done and dusted so I can go out and enjoy my football without worrying about what happens in January.
”I knew there would only be a short time to impress a new manager coming in after Derek McInnes left for Bristol City. It’s always in the back of your mind that your face might not fit or the new boss might not want you. So it’s great he wants to get everything sorted out. It has given me a huge lift.
”I’ve enjoyed my time here. I love it at St Johnstone and want to stay.”
As a Saints fan, Moon can put Saturday’s draw at Ibrox into context better than most.
He said: ”When you realise Saints have only drawn twice there in 40 years it underlines what a good result it was for us.
”We went there and imposed ourselves. We didn’t just settle for keeping them out. We were comfortable for long spells and we could’ve nicked it.
”It again shows we are a solid unit on the road and we aren’t conceding many goals. We are shutting the back door.
”We worked really hard as a team to get a positive result against Rangers so hopefully we can carry it on into the Hibs game this weekend.
”This is the best start I can remember to a season and long may it continue. I don’t see with the players we have here why we should not be ambitious. Who knows where we could finish? But it is a tough league and we won’t get ahead of ourselves.
”The manner we lost to Hibs recently was disappointing, especially with the Gary O’Connor dive for the penalty. Now we want to make Perth a tough place for teams to come to.”
Photo Kirk O’Rourke/PA