ST JOHNSTONE defender Dave Mackay shrugged off reports linking Saints’ star men with moves in the January window after their goalless draw with Inverness on Saturday.
Speculation is mounting that other clubs will come sniffing around the Perth club’s key players next month, with Liam Craig and Murray Davidson already among the players being mentioned as potential transfer targets for Hibs and Rangers respectively.
However, Mackay is very much a believer that whatever will be will be, although he hopes Saints can retain the services of their best performers for as long as possible. “There are so many changes that go on in football these days constantly, whether it’s summer or the winter break, so it doesn’t worry us,” he said.
“Whatever happens when the window closes, we just have to get on with it because you can’t sit and worry about it. We just have to get on with training and preparing for games as well as we can.
“Obviously you want to keep players that have been doing well together. If you are doing well, other teams are going to be interested but that’s up to the chairman and the manager to deal with.
“But, whoever is here in January, we just have to try our best it’s not for the players to worry about.”
Saturday’s game had all the makings of a goalfest although fans of both teams were left sorely disappointed as it finished 0-0.
On paper, a draw for Saints could be seen as a good result against an Inverness side who have been on a roll in recent weeks, but Mackay was left frustrated as Saints recorded an incredible sixth draw in nine league matches.
He said: “Draws are not going to get us anywhere. Sometimes you are as well losing a couple and winning a couple but it’s a point against a good team who have been on a fantastic run, so hopefully we can get the three points against Dundee on Wednesday and go into the break with a win.
“You win a couple of games and you can climb back up the league pretty quickly, although if you lose a couple you could be near the bottom of the league.
“It’s that tight but I think second or third place is up for grabs this year.
“It’s fair enough getting a point but it’s not good enough if we want to try and get top four or top six.
“It’s not for the lack of chances but we just need to try and get it right at both ends of the park.”
Saints boss Steve Lomas said: “I thought it was set up to be two attacking teams and it probably ended up a bit of an anti-climax.”
csmith@thecourier.co.uk