It’s “business as usual” at McDiarmid Park this week, St Johnstone assistant manager Tony Docherty has insisted.
Boss Derek McInnes is strongly linked with the vacant Bristol City post, but preparing for the visit of Inverness after the international break is the Perth management team’s sole focus.
Saints are tied with Hearts for fourth in the SPL and Docherty expects to have several first-team stars back when Terry Butcher brings his team south.
He said: ”It’s business as usual here and the atmosphere about the place is magnificent.
”The mood among the lads is very buoyant because we are in a rich vein of form.
”The break has come at a good time for us because it is buying time for a few of our injured players to get back.
”We will have almost a full squad available at the start of next week, which is great.
”Frazer Wright is ahead of schedule and Murray Davidson is almost ready after six weeks out. They are making real progress.”’Important period’Saints have fixed up a Friday bounce game and another is scheduled for Tuesday.
Docherty said: ”Callum Davidson is back in full training after coming through the game at Kilmarnock and Graham Gartland is also working out.
”David Robertson has a hamstring injury and is resting up.
”That only leaves Sam Parkin and Sean Higgins in the treatment room.”
He added:”The squad is getting stronger again at an important period for us.
”We have struck a balance between resting some guys who have played intensively and working others who needed a top-up.”