St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright believes goalkeeper Alan Mannus’ call-up to Northern Ireland’s Euro 2016 squad is a great advert for his club.
The Saints’ number one has been included in Michael O’Neill’s 23-man travelling party for the tournament, which kicks-off in France a week on Friday.
Wright is busy working on his summer recruitment plans and reckons the job of selling the Perth outfit to his targets will be made easier by the fact Mannus (34) is heading to the finals.
Wright – a former Northern Ireland goalie himself who has just been named the Premiership manager of the year by sponsors Ladbrokes – said: “I’m really pleased for Alan, who’s a great professional.
“He’s been the backbone of our team during the tremendous success we’ve had over the last few seasons.
“It’s a great thing for St Johnstone. It will highlight the club and will put us in a very good light in that we have a player going to the Euros.
“It would be nice if there were more but having Alan there gives us satisfaction.
“He’s a great pro and I couldn’t be happier for him to be going to France.”
Mannus is one of five players from Scotland’s top-flight heading to the Euros with Northern Ireland.
He is joined in the province’s squad by Hamilton keeper Michael McGovern, Kilmarnock pair Lee Hodson and Josh Magennis, as well as Aberdeen’s Niall McGinn.
They face Slovakia in a friendly this Saturday in preparation for their Group C games against Poland (Sunday, June 12), Ukraine (Thursday, June 16) and Germany (Tuesday June 21).
