St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright has confirmed that Murray Davidson should be fit to face Hamilton once the international break is over.
The combative midfielder was in the wars once again on Saturday at Celtic Park, having to come off at half-time following a clash of heads with the Hoops’ Emilio Izaguirre.
Davidson was withdrawn as a precautionary measure and Wright is relieved he suffered no lasting damage.
The McDiarmid manager said: “Murray has a sore head. He probably suffered mild concussion but he wasn’t knocked out. He didn’t have to go to hospital after the doc checked him out which was a big plus for us.
“I was relieved to see him on the bus after the game because he has been in the wars.
“He had taken a few head knocks including a bad one against Alashkert.
“He is a whole-hearted player and he doesn’t shirk challenges. I won’t change him and I wouldn’t want to.
“We will monitor him this week but he will be fine for the game against Hamilton after the international break.
“Even if he had been out cold, he’d have been fine within the guidelines.”
That first Europa League game against Alashkert was away back on July 2 and because of the early start to the season, Wright is giving his players some well-earned days off during the international break.
The manager also reflected on the start Saints have made to the campaign and he admitted that while there are plenty of positives, he is looking for his side to tighten up defensively.
He said: “The lads have a few days off this week because of the early start they had. It is a long season and they are due a bit of down time.
“I think the start to the season could have been better. We’d have liked more points.
“The positives are that we have been scoring goals but I’d have taken two clean sheets and fewer goals because we’d have had more points on board.
“It is disappointing that individual errors have meant we haven’t kept any clean sheets. We have conceded too many goals and that isn’t like us but I don’t think it is a situation where we need to panic.
“There have been enough positives in the opening games but going forward we have to address that to pick up points.”
The transfer window closes tonight and Wright was cautious over the chances of adding to his squad, joking that Sky Sports should not turn up at McDiarmid.
He added: “If we can get any business done we will do it. It would be a bonus if we got someone in but I don’t think Jim White will be parked outside McDiarmid.”