He’ll ask the question, just incase.
But St Johnstone striker Steven MacLean knows the answer.
Tommy Wright isn’t about to change his mind on the veteran forward playing on artificial pitches, even if his presence would significantly improve the Perth club’s chances of progressing to the second qualifying round of the Europa League.
Protecting MacLean’s knee will be the priority for as long as his career has left to run.
“I don’t know yet,” said the former Rangers and Aberdeen man. “I’ve not spoken to the manager. I will see what he says. It will be his choice.
“Would I like to play? Yes, obviously. I will speak to the manager and he will say I’m not playing.
“I’ll sit in a darkened room probably. It’s his choice. He is the manager and he picks the team.”
The blunt truth for Saints is that they need to score at least two goals in Lithuania after their 2-1 home defeat to FK Trakai at McDiarmid on Thursday night.
But, for a club that has upset the odds on many occasions over the last few years, it can be done.
“I think so,” said MacLean. “But we have been to Parkhead and we have been to Ibrox and got results there. They are not a better side than Rangers and Celtic.
“We have also been to Aberdeen and got points before. So we know it is going to take a big performance.
“We are going to have to score two goals and keep a clean sheet or go to extra time. But I think we will get chances over there and we need to be more clinical. We need to take them this time.
“Yes, they are a decent side.
“They’ve also played 15-20 games of their season and tonight was our first game. I’m not making excuses but that helps.
“I’m not going to sit here and lie. It’s a disappointing result. We shot ourselves in the foot with the two goals we conceded.
“They were a decent side and they were hard to play against. They kept the ball well but we missed a few chances.
“We showed we could create chances against them. And I think we have enough about us to go over there and get a result.
“We were disappointed but we know we have great character and we have been places and got better results. It’s obviously going to be difficult and we need two goals and it will be tough but, like the manager said, only a fool would write us off.”
Trakai are a fluent passing side, with at least three players who would comfortably fit in as Scottish Premiership regulars, or better.
None of their star turns were defenders, though. Despite a performance that was far from Saints vintage, several good chances were created and MacLean is confident that will be the case in Vilnius as well.
“Their two full backs play high, their wide guys go narrow and they flood the midfield,” he said. “It’s hard to play against.
“Blair (Alston) had a great chance in the first half and Graham (Cummins) has missed the rebound.
“Then in the second half Scougs (Stefan Scougall) has hit the post. There are chances to be had but we need to keep the back door closed because they are good on the counter attack.
“Their goalie never fancied coming for corners. It could be an avenue. We knew that beforehand and our goal came from a set play. But we created chances from open play as well. There are positives and negatives. We’ve lost the game but there were good things to take from the game.”
Trakai keeper Ignas Plukas was at fault for Joe Shaughnessy’s goal and he was a lucky man to hear the referee’s whistle when the ball crossed the line after he had been challenged in the air by Cummins when Saints were chasing a late equaliser.
“The ref said Graham fouled the goalie,” said MacLean. “He’s not blown his whistle much all game and then he rules that one out.
“We’ve just go get on with it. He said he fouled the goalie but he let some things go and clamped down on others. Their centre half was backing in a lot and he never gave a foul.
“That’s just the way it goes. Different refs from different places see the game differently.”
MacLean has sat out a few games because of plastic pitches, including Saints’ exit from the Scottish Cup at Queen of the South as defending champions.
It didn’t take him long to come up with answer to which missed match will sting the most.
“This one,” he said. “I don’t like missing any games but I was really looking forward to the European games.
“I’m not getting any younger and it’s getting harder and harder to qualify for Europe.
“It’s going to be tough to miss it but hopefully the boys can turn them over and get another European tie back here at McDiarmid Park.”
