St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright has challenged Adam Morgan to step into the role of main striker in the wake of the club’s injury bombshell.
The Perth club were left reeling by the news that forward Steven MacLean will be out for between four and six months after undergoing knee surgery.
It is a serious blow to Saints, who also lost free-scoring frontman Stevie May when he joined Sheffield Wednesday last month.
Wright will now look to bring another striker in to add to his options but it will be to 20-year-old Morgan, the former Liverpool man who is currently on loan from Yeovil Town, that Wright will look to lead the line.
“Adam has come up and has been finding his feet,” said Wright. “He played very well for the under-20s the other night and he will get his chance now.
“That’s what he came here for. He is desperate to play football and it’s up to him to take his opportunity now.”
Wright then confirmed that he hopes to bring in a fresh face.
“I still think I’m going to need another striker so have started looking already,” he said.
“At this stage of the season you are looking at guys who don’t have clubs and it’s probably the more experienced ones who are available.
“So I will be speaking to the chairman (Steve Brown) when he gets back from his holiday and discuss what we’re going to do.”
The MacLean news has understandably been greeted with dismay at McDiarmid Park.
Wright added: “It’s a huge blow because we were hoping it wouldn’t be as bad as this.
“The one positive is that it’s not the same area but the damage was such that the surgeon felt he had to operate.
“Macca spent the night in hospital and has been told he can’t have any weight on it for six weeks.
“I really feel for him because he’s got a long process ahead of him to get back fit again.
“He’s been through it once so he knows what’s needed but it’s still going to be hard for him.
“He’s a big player for us and an important person in the dressing-room, so all the lads are feeling the same for him.
“Macca’s had some incredible highs and lows in the last 12 months and everyone here will be supporting him while he’s getting back to fitness.”
As if that weren’t bad enough, another Saints player is about to go under the knife.
Tam Scobbie is the man in question and Wright said: “Tam needs an operation and will go into hospital for that next week.
“Obviously that’s not the news we were wanting either and he, too, faces a period of recovery.
“He’s a strong character and will put everything into getting fit again. He’s been a big player for us in the last couple of years.”