ST JOHNSTONE manager Steve Lomas has told Craig Brown he would like to keep loan winger Peter Pawlett at McDiarmid Park until the end of the season.
Injuries have kept the Scotland under-21 international out of the Saints team for most of his time at Perth, but he’s back to full fitness now and was impressive in the Boxing Day Tayside derby at Tannadice.
The player himself is also keen to extend his stay, but Aberdeen manager Craig Brown has yet to make up his mind.
The possibility of another of his widemen, prize asset Ryan Fraser, being sold in the transfer window is one of the factors delaying Brown’s decision.
Lomas said: “We would love to keep Peter Pawlett. But that is down to Aberdeen in the next few days.
“I had a brief chat with Craig Brown up there (when the teams met at Pittodrie last weekend) because we would love to have him here through to the end of the season.
“Peter would like to stay but it is their decision to make.”
High-flying Inverness Caledonian Thistle visit McDiarmid on Saturday, and Lomas will have a hard decision to make on who to play at left-back.
Callum Davidson was rested on Wednesday, and Tam Scobbie performed well against United in his absence.
Lomas commented: “Tam Scobbie was unlucky to be left out at Aberdeen and with the pitch being so heavy again we decided to leave Callum out at Tannadice.
“But it is good to have competition. That is what I want.”
Lomas is well aware that the draw count for his team is creeping up, and he wants to nip that in the bud.
He pointed out: “We have to turn around our home form and start putting together a few wins to help ease the pressure on us going away and having to get something every week.
“As I’ve said before, I would be more worried if we weren’t creating chances. We believe it will turn for us if we keep persevering. If we stick with it and keep believing I am sure someone is going to take a real pasting from us.”
enicolson@thecourier.co.uk