St Johnstone midfielder Lee Croft could be in contention to face Hibs this weekend if he comes through an under-20 fixture with Dundee United unscathed.
The 28-year-old is awaiting his first start since returning to the Perth club for a second spell last month and has been determined to improve his fitness after leaving Oldham Athletic in the summer.
Manager Tommy Wright confirmed that Croft is already well along the comeback trail and could feasibly have been on the bench at Firhill at the weekend, although he will be given the chance to step up his match practice at Forfar’s Station Park.
“Crofty was in my thoughts for the squad to face Partick but the conditions prompted a re-think,” Wright admitted, “but he will get another 90 minutes at Forfar.”
Defender Steven Anderson could also be in with a chance of a place in the squad at Easter Road on his return from thumb surgery, but the centre-half will not be risked at Forfar because of the plastic pitch.
“Ando’s fitness isn’t in question,” Wright continued.
“He has been training since surgery on the dislocated thumb. “But we don’t want to risk giving him another run on an artificial surface bearing in mind he had an ankle clean-up op in the summer.”
One Saints player who will feature is midfielder David Robertson, who will be given the chance to showcase his talents against his former club United.
A number of clubs have already enquired about Robertson, who was told last week that his contract at Perth will not be renewed when it expires at the end of the month, and newly-appointed Morton manager Kenny Shiels is understood to be just one of the managers interested in snapping up the experienced playmaker.
“Robbo is fit and ready to kick on,” Wright continued.
“Hopefully he can get something sorted out because he will be an asset to someone.
“I don’t like to see any footballer out of a job and Robbo will play for us in this U20 game. I want to give him the opportunity to catch the eye of interested clubs.”
Wright will be hoping his side have better luck when they visit Easter Road this weekend than they did on Saturday, when their league game against Partick Thistle was abandoned at half-time.
Referee Kevin Clancy risked the wrath of the supporters who turned up to a sodden Firhill by calling the game off at the break, despite giving the game the go ahead following a pre-match inspection.
But standing water in front of the home stand proved difficult to shift, and Wright reckons Clancy was correct to call it quits with half the match unplayed.
“I think it was the right decision because it was only going to get worse,” he concluded.
“The referee obviously voiced his concerns that people were going to be seriously injured, and it wasn’t getting any better.
“He did explain to us before the game that he thought the pitch was playable, and I think it was, but as the half went on the far side got worse and he said he would assess it as the game went on.
“St Johnstone fans and Partick fans would have been disappointed because they wanted to see 90 minutes of football. But they are all pretty reasonable and they will realise the reasons why the referee had to make that decision.
“The conditions were horrendous but we had a great travelling support, especially with Christmas looming. Hopefully they will follow us to Edinburgh this weekend.”
Wright revealed that midfielder Gary McDonald required stitches to the head wound he suffered in the early stages of the weekend’s ill-fated match, threatening to ruin his look ahead of the squad’s Christmas trip to Newcastle last Saturday night.
“He is fine but that is three head knocks he has had this season – the lads are saying he has soft skin!” the Saints boss joked.
“The one at Kilmarnock was the worst because he was sparked out and it was a nasty gash above his eye. It was sickening. Gary has been unlucky but hopefully that’s the last of the knocks.”