Despite being the top goalscorer in the First Division, Stevie May won’t be assured of top team football if he stays with St Johnstone, according to assistant manager Tommy Wright.
But that will be the case wherever he plays next season. The Perth side have made the on-loan frontman a “very good offer” and are waiting on his response.
May scored 19 goals in the Second Division with Alloa last season and has netted 26 in the First with Hamilton Accies this term. Wright believes he is now ready to hit the ground running in the SPL.
He said: “Stevie has done brilliantly this season so we’re hoping he’s going to sign a new deal.
“He’s been made a very good offer. The whole point of the loan deal was to get him first team football and get him experience. Between Steve (Lomas), myself and Alec Cleland we’ve probably watched 20 of the games he’s played in this season.
“And there’s no doubt he’s improved as a player. He’s got more experience now. There are areas he needs to work on, things he needs to improve on but he’s proved himself as having that knack of scoring goals.
“Nobody is guaranteed a place in our team but one thing for sure is that Stevie will be given the opportunity to show what he can do. He’ll definitely get his chance, that’s for sure. We want him here.”
“He’s a player we really like. The loan has done exactly what we hoped for him,” said Wright.
“It’s now up to him to decide if he’s going to sign the deal.”
Wright added: “He’s maybe a bit concerned about limited opportunities.
“But nobody is guaranteed first-team football at SPL level. The only way he’ll be guaranteed that is if he goes down the levels.”
Wright does not know what advice the player is getting, but he feels the McDiarmid Park dressing room is the right place to keep his feet on the ground.
He said: “Has he had his head turned? That’s always a concern. But in that dressing room it wouldn’t last long.
“It wouldn’t be a problem we’d have to deal with because there’s senior boys in there who would bring anyone down a peg or two if they thought that was an issue. But I’m sure it won’t be.”