St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright has challenged his players to build on the kind of form they showed before the international break when they return to Premiership action tomorrow.
Saints host bottom club Ross County in the first part of a double header against the Dingwall side this weekend, with Jim McIntyre’s men also the Perth club’s opponents in the Scottish Cup in just over a week’s time.
League business is first up though and Wright is keen for his team to pick up where they left off before the enforced lay-off.
“All I’m interested in is the league game first of all and getting the three points, and then we’ll deal with the Scottish Cup game the following week,” he said.
“The cup game will take care of itself.
“One thing’s for sure, we’ll know each other.
“Looking at their last performance away to Kilmarnock, Ross County seem to have improved.
“They made quite a few signings and there has been a turnaround in players before and after the window.
“I think Jim McIntyre wants to put his own stamp on the team and I think he’ll do that.
“It’ll be a difficult game and they’ll see it as an opportunity to close the gap at the bottom.
“But we’ll see it as an opportunity to close the gap on the teams in front of us, so we’ve got to take the positives from the last three games where we’ve looked more like ourselves at both ends of the pitch.
“They’ve picked up since Jim has gone in but I can only concentrate on us.
“I’m pleased with how we’ve done over the last three games but I keep emphasising that it’s only a start.
“To be unbeaten in three, we’ve got to try and keep that run going and over the next few weeks try to get enough points to get us back in touch with the top six.”
Apart from longer-term absentees Steven MacLean and Tam Scobbie, Saints’ only doubts for the weekend are midfielders David Wotherspoon and Gary McDonald.
Both players have taken part in light training sessions this week due to hamstring injuries and will be assessed ahead of County’s visit to McDiarmid Park tomorrow.
Saints fans would have been delighted to see ex-striker Stevie May handed his first senior cap for Scotland against England in midweek, and May’s former manager was no different.
Wright continued: “I’m pleased for him I sent him a message and I thought he did quite well when he came on.
“It’s something I felt would happen, and it was just a matter of when.
“Gordon Strachan obviously has faith in him as well, and he’s seen enough to give him a cap.
“I know Stuart McCall told me that they were really impressed with Stevie since he came into the squad, so that’s all positive for Stevie.
“He’ll go back now and hopefully start scoring goals for Sheffield Wednesday and build on that.”
Meanwhile, Wright has reiterated his desire to get some of the younger members of his squad out on loan to gain some valuable first team experience.
Striker Dylan Easton impressed in the Development League during the week, scoring twice, and Wright is keen to see him continue his progression.
“Dylan’s available for loan and it surprises me that nobody wants to take him,” he added.
“He’s done well in recent weeks in the Under 20s but I think with all the 20s and Development League players, I judge them on a Monday to Friday and how they do in amongst the first team.
“There’s a big gap between the Development League and first team, but Dylan is certainly moving in the right direction, has been on the bench a few times and is close to coming off the bench.
“But I think quite a few of the younger players need to go out and experience first team football.”