Tommy Wright doesn’t need to be told about the attacking and creative options Neil Lennon is blessed with at Hibs.
Because the St Johnstone manager’s star man of seasons gone by can’t even get a game for the Easter Road side.
“I know Danny Swanson has had his injuries but he has struggled to get a regular start,” said Wright, who was keen on bringing the playmaker back to McDiarmid Park in January for a third spell with Saints.
“He would be a starter for us every week. That shows their strength.
“Neil has added to the squad he had last year and they have kicked on. They are a big club with a massive fan base and he has done good business in both windows.
“They are a team that plays attractive, high tempo football and they are littered with quality players. Just this week Dylan McGeouch has joined John McGinn in the Scotland squad.
“And Scott Allan has maybe found a club and manager who will bring the consistency out in him.”
McGeouch and McGinn are looking like player of the year candidates, and Wright believes his fellow Northern Irishman will also be in the running for end of season awards.
“Neil has been doing great at Hibs and must be in the running for manger of the year,” he said.
“Obviously I know him well and he is a good pal. But he has proved once again what a good manager he is.
“Circumstances didn’t help him at Bolton and it was a disappointing time for him after leaving Celtic, which is one of the biggest club jobs in Britain.
“He has qualities to manage big players and he has a winning mentality after his success as a player and manager at Celtic.
“Neil probably won’t admit it but with what was going on financially at Bolton at the time it probably wasn’t the best of circumstances for him.
“But I don’t think his confidence ever took a knock because he has a strong belief in what he can do.
“He has certainly got Hibs going the right direction after promotion last season. He has re-galvanised them and it hasn’t surprised me.”
Saints will have no inferiority complex in tomorrow night’s match at McDiarmid. They have just won 4-0 on the road and haven’t lost to Hibs this season.
Wright said: “Hibs were talking down the top six before but they are mentioning qualifying for Europe now so obviously Neil has instilled that belief in them.
“But my aim is to take three points off them. It’s a difficult task but we have done well against Hibs with a win and a draw.
“We have to make sure we put in the type of performance we did against Dundee. Do that and we can take points off anybody.”
Wright added: “After our win at Dens all of a sudden people are talking about us having an outside chance of the top six. Before that result we were being touted as relegation fodder. That shows how tight this league is.
“We have always said it would be tighter this season. We are only two points off a Motherwell team that are having a magnificent season by all accounts.
“So there is still a lot to play for. We have to be happy with our weekend work but we have to build on it.
“I work in blocks of 10 and want to get to 40 points as quickly as possible. We could do that before the split. So let’s win the next game and see where it takes us.”
