There are a “lot more goals” to come from Graham Cummins, St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright has predicted.
The Irishman has hit the ground running at McDiarmid Park by finding the net four times already, the most recent strike coming in last weekend’s Tayside derby.
That total is as many as he amassed at both Rochdale and Preston, but Wright doesn’t expect him to stick on the mark with Saints.
“I did feel he would score goals,” the Perth boss said.
“What Graham hasn’t head is a consistent run in a team.
“I know I put him out on the left but I looked at his goalscoring record at Cork, and further back.
“You don’t lose that.
“There are reasons why he didn’t do so well down in England.
“He didn’t get a regular run in the team and was moved about in terms of his position.
“He’s settled well here and I think he can go on and score a lot more goals.”
Wright added: “He’s a threat on the ground and in the air. His leap for the goal against United was impressive. It was a difficult header because Rankin was on the post, so he had to keep it high.
“He’s very good on crosses and has technique that enables him to hang in the air, which is a problem for defenders.
“His all round play, movement and work-rate are good. Its’ a good partnership he’s formed with Macca (Steven MacLean).”
Cummins was benched for the League Cup win at Ibrox as Wright tinkered with his system, but the 27-year-old didn’t throw his toys out of the pram.
“I spoke to him before the Rangers game and he understood my reasons for not starting him,” Wright explained.
“That’s the thing we’ve got a good base of senior outfield players. There’s competition for places, and it’s only nine league games into the season.
“People who are out of the team could be back in it very quickly, and people in it could be out very quickly.
“That’s the nature of the game and the lads understand that.”
Wright has challenged his midfielders to do their goalscoring bit as well, and they have responded impressively.
He said: “Craig, Wotherspoon, Davidson, and Lappin have all scored recently. That’s what we need.
“At home we’re averaging over two goals a game now.
“Even though we haven’t had clean sheets, we are stemming the flow of goals against us.
“There’s no doubt that going forward has been a big plus.”
Meanwhile, Wright believes that the impressive way goalkeeper Zander Clark has taken to his first team promotion has shown the worth of farming their youngsters out on loan.
He said: “We’ve got 10 players out on loan and they’re all benefitting from that. Zander is proof of that.
“We’re more than happy to use the loan system to help our young players develop.”
Aberdeen are up next for Saints, who are now within striking distance of their natural habitat, the top six of the Premiership.
“We’ll keep taking each game as it comes,” Wright pointed out. “We’ll not make any sweeping statements.
“Last weekend I saw teams were coming out and saying they’re going to finish top six. We never say that, we just get on with the business of trying to make that happen.”