It has been a frustrating start to the season for David Wotherspoon.
And when the St Johnstone midfielder is available for selection in the near future, he knows that he’ll have fight on his hands to get in the team.
The former Hibs man is one of nine senior midfielders who will be battling for a place in the starting line-up this term.
Murray Davidson, Paul Paton, Chris Millar, Liam Craig, Blair Alston, Danny Swanson, Michael Coulson and Craig Thomson are the others.
Wotherspoon hasn’t yet had a chance to stake his claim, as a fractured wrist which went undetected at the end of last season has kept him out of action to date.
But he is optimistic that he’ll be fit for the Premiership opener against Aberdeen next month.
“It was the end of last season and I don’t really know how it happened,” Wotherspoon said.
“I think it might have been the Motherwell game.
“It wasn’t painful, and I played in the last two games.
“It was thought it was a sprain but the pain was still there during my summer holidays and I was sent for an x-ray. It turned out it was fractured.”
He added: “It’s a bit of a nuisance but these things happen.
“I can join in with most of training except possession and games.
“It could be worse.
“I won’t have match fitness but I’ve been doing a lot of running. I’m looking on the positives. It would have been worse if it was a leg or a foot. I’ve been able to do more leg weights in the gym and fitness stuff.
“I’m hoping to be available for the first league game against Aberdeen.”
Wotherspoon expects that he’ll have to wear a protective cast for his return.
“I see the surgeon again next Wednesday and we’ll see what she thinks,” he said.
“The plan is to see if I can have a lighter cast and play with it.
“It’s been frustrating but it’s important you keep a good mind.”
Saints are unbeaten in friendlies and the Betfred Cup and Wotherspoon knows that this season competition for places in midfield will be more intense than he’s ever known.
“We’ve got a great squad,” he said. “A lot of midfielders.
“I need to be fighting fit when I come back.
“There’s nine of us and that’s before you talk about the youngsters breaking through. It’s great for the club.”
