Michael O’Halloran’s skillset has never really suffered from over-complication.
And now it’s Michael O’Halloran’s mindset that his manager wants to declutter.
When the forward’s razor-sharp anticipation and explosive acceleration enabled him to latch onto a blind Stuart Findlay back-pass and secure St Johnstone an injury-time victory at Kilmarnock, it was hoped that moment would be the rebirth of a player whose career, at 29, should be peaking.
There were glimpses of the O’Halloran of old in the weeks that followed but no more goals or assists.
Rugby Park in the summer sun proved to be more false dawn than flicked switch.
Others (David Wotherspoon and Craig Conway) have performed better in the wide roles of the front three in Callum Davidson’s favourite formation, while Stevie May has become Davidson’s main man through the middle, with new signing Guy Melamed likely to provide his chief competition.
The Perth boss hasn’t lost faith in O’Halloran’s game-changing capability but there is work to be done if he wants to be restored into his starting line-up.
It isn’t technical or tactical changes that will get the former Rangers and Bolton Wanderers man back on track. The solution is psychological.
For Michael, it’s just a case of him relaxing and going out to play.
“With Michael I think he has to enjoy himself,” said Davidson. “It sounds like a really stupid thing to say but you do forget that as a footballer sometimes.
“I can remember that myself.
“Sometimes you put too much pressure on yourself.
“For Michael, it’s just a case of him relaxing and going to out to play. When he opens up and goes past people he has the ability to win games on his own.
“Now that he’s come back (from injury) he will be trying to force his way into the team. That’s what he’s got to do.”
One player who shouldn’t have to worry about enjoying his football is Craig Bryson. A season at Aberdeen ruined by injury behind him, the former Scotland man was recently selected by Davidson to start against Dundee United ahead of a fit Ali McCann – reward for the impact excellence as a substitute at Hamilton the weekend before.
Davidson knows he will have to carefully manage the soon to be 34-year-old’s training and playing schedule but there will be no need to inflate his confidence ahead of a clash with his old club Kilmarnock under McDiarmid Park’s floodlights tomorrow night.
“It was probably a little bit harsh on Ali because he’s played well too,” said the Saints manager, reflecting on his team selection for the United match.
“Craig got game-time and a lot of good training while Ali was away on international duty.
“With Craig we just need to watch that we have him available for the season. Basically the only reason we were able to get him from Aberdeen was he had a few injuries up there.
“We need to make sure we monitor him so that we have him available every Saturday.”
Taking over from managerial legends is one thing Davidson and Killie boss Alex Dyer have in common. They are also both successfully walking the tightrope of sustaining the team DNA established by their predecessor history-making predecessor, while infusing their own principles.
It would be wrong if you just tried to copy somebody. You have to find your own way.
“Every manager has their own way,” said Davidson, who is following on from Saints great Tommy Wright. “You learn from others and adapt to your own way.
“You can work under a lot of managers and take bits off each of them. But it would be wrong if you just tried to copy somebody. You have to find your own way.
“If you are going to succeed or fail it has to be your own way and Alex is probably the exact same as me – he has taken bits off every good manager he has had. Not just Steve Clarke but other managers he has worked and played under.”
Davidson’s scouting of tonight’s opponents when they lost narrowly to league leaders Rangers on Sunday reaffirmed the task Saints face this evening.
“Friday night will be another tough game,” he said. “I watched Kilmarnock against Rangers and I thought they were unlucky not to take something from the game.
“They showed they can drop back and defend well and press higher up the pitch. I thought Kilmarnock had a real go in the second half. They played with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.
“We need to be ready to adapt and adjust to however they decide to play.
“They have been helped over the years by experience. They know how to play the game.
“Alex has a good squad and there are probably two or three changes he could make. Whether that’s shape or what I’m not sure.
“The majority of games they defend really well and are solid. That’s one of their strengths for me. So maybe it will just be personnel.
“I will have a look at the team when we get it and adjust accordingly.”
It goes without saying that Davidson wants a repeat of the Rugby Park result in mid-August. But he knows that Saints have played far better since then and lost.
“It was probably our worst performance of the season,” he acknowledged.
“In saying that, it was one of those where we managed to find a result.
“It’s important to keep going in the right direction. The performances have obviously deserved more points.
“We just need to carry on with what we are doing.”
