Tommy Wright believes Paul Paton has proved he was a good summer signing for St Johnstone, and that he has been proved correct in targeting the former Dundee United midfielder in the first place.
Paton was a second half substitute for Northern Ireland in their midweek friendly against Croatia, a match which Alan Mannus started.
National manager Michael O’Neill is clearly happy with what he’s seeing from Paton and so too is his club boss.
Wright said: “Maybe the intensity and how we play meant Pates took time to get up to speed. There is also a lot of competition in central midfield so getting a run of games wasn’t easy.
“I did rotate them and will continue to do that for particular games. That won’t change.
“He has had to adjust to playing, doing well but being pulled out. He understood the reasons. But he has got fitter and is getting around the pitch. I am looking for Pates to push on now. Everyone has to be on their mettle.
“He has been great in the dressing room and he hasn’t missed a day’s training. There’s a legitimate question in asking why I brought in another out-and-out central midfielder when Murray Davidson, Liam Craig and Chris Millar can all play in there.
“I don’t want to gloat but I have been proved right in bringing Pates in. Midge has had a difficult six months and the way Murray plays he picks up injuries.
“Paton is a quality player. It was the right decision to sign him and I am pleased we did. He has been excellent for us, even when he was left out of the team because I felt a different combination was right for particular games.”
Both Paton and Mannus have returned fit and well from Northern Ireland’s double header, and Wright said: “I was delighted for Alan and Paul. Alan did well.
“There wasn’t a lot Alan could do about the goals and it was good for Pates to get another cap. It’s the first time in a long time I suspect that St Johnstone have had two players on the pitch together at international level. It’s been a good trip for them in terms of getting game time.”
Keith Watson continued his comeback in the under-20s earlier in the week, with Murray Davidson and Chris Millar also hopefully not too far away from getting back into the first team.
“I am really pleased with Keith’s progress,” Wright said. “He has been training and got another 60 minutes in the under-20s against Hibs this week. He will get another run against Dundee United on Monday night.
“Fingers’ crossed that’s Keith back and back for good. It will boost the squad and it is good for him.
“He had settled in quickly here before picking-up the injuries. Things like that can happen but I have every confidence in Keith that he will get back in the squad and back into the team. We signed him because he is a good player. That hasn’t changed. He has just had a bit of bad luck.”
Wright added: “Murray will be back for Inverness. Chris Millar would normally be looking at two or three weeks out with his hamstring but we will probably give him an extra week or 10 days because of his recent history with muscle injuries.
“He is making good progress. He just has to get fit and stay fit. It has been frustrating for Midge and for me. He has come off in too many games and that has been a concern. It does have an effect on the actual game because you are making substitutions at times you don’t want to.”
The stop-start nature of Saints’ season isn’t ideal as far as Wright is concerned, with tomorrow’s game against Ross County followed by a free weekend.
He said: “We should have been coming into a good run of games between now and January but with the League Cup final next weekend the Celtic match goes on hold.
“It has been put back to January and ideally I’d have had it played right after the final. We now have almost two international breaks in a row. But we will manage it.”
