Jacko targets Saints greats

Oct 19 2007

ANDY JACKSON watched Kenny Deuchar walk into McDiarmid Park and braced himself for a prolonged spell on the bench.

But instead, the arrival of the prolific striker on loan from Gretna heralded the start of a remarkable run which culminated yesterday in the 19-year-old clinching a new two-year deal which secures his future through to 2010.

The level-headed youngster has scored in each of the last five games and the last Perth player to do that was another highly rated prospect, Keigan Parker.

Now, Jackson has his sights set on six-in-a row against Queen of the South on home turf tomorrow – and that would emulate Sammy Johnston's prolific run posted 20 years ago and close in on Henry Hall's achievement in netting in eight games on the spin in the late sixties.

But that was far from Jackson's mind as he celebrated a new contract, following hard on the heels of another promising youngster, Steven Anderson.

He said: “It’s great to get a contract and my future sorted out this early. Now I can concentrate on playing football.

“I waited a long time for my chance but things couldn’t have gone any better than this. Mixu Paatelainen was a great help when I was on loan at Cowdenbeath but the gaffer here has helped me more than anyone.

“He gives me pointers after training sessions. And he always said he would put me in the first team when the time was right.”

Having been out on loan at Cowdenbeath and Forfar, Jackson admitted his heart sank when he found Deuchar had followed fellow strikers Dyron Daal and John Stewart into McDiarmid Park. He feared he’d slip back down the pecking order, with Peter MacDonald and Steven Milne already on board.

“I thought that meant I wouldn’t get a chance. But I came on at Dunfermline and got my first goal at Ross County playing with Kenny. That started me off on this run. Playing with a big guy like Kenny has helped me a lot. I have a bit of pace and like to run in behind defenders and it is proving a good partnership.

“I feel confident going into every game and that’s down to the goals and the gaffer. But I did tell the manager I would score if he started me!”

Boss Owen Coyle is keen to retain Deuchar beyond the December loan deal and seven-goal Jackson admits that would suit him down to the ground.

“I would love Kenny to stay. I’d like to think it’s not just down to Kenny and I have helped him get goals. But we talk football travelling every day from Denny and that’s helped us out on the park. The only thing he doesn't listen to me about is how to cook a pizza properly!”

Coyle admitted the Republic of Ireland under age cap deserved his contract extension.

He said: “Andy is desperate to be the best player he can possibly be and his hunger is natural. You can’t instil that in a player. I’m delighted for the kid and this gives us more time to work on him. He has earned this deal and the time was right to secure him for another two years.

“We toyed with giving him a start pre-season and when the other strikers weren’t scoring he got his chance. I had warned him in the summer he couldn’t be content with being a bit part player. He had to force himself into contention and in football circumstances change.

“Andy is doing well and there is more to come. We will hone the raw edges further. And you can see that hunger to succeed. I hope that never leaves him.

“He is in there on merit but Peter MacDonald is fighting fit now and the competition is driving everyone on.”

Coyle wants his players to pick-up where they left off against Livingston and bag six points from back to back home games against QoS and Clyde, teams which took points from Saints early in the campaign.

Jamie McCluskey is available but David Weatherston remains absent and it could be three weeks before Martin Hardie is ready to return. Goran Stanic and Kenny Deuchar have missed training with injuries but are expected face the Dumfries side.

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SAINTS hope to have their new scoreboard in action tomorrow. It is a two-line screen like the ones at Ibrox, replacing the previous model which had reached the end of its life. The advertising surround should be in place for next weekend.

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GOALS from Peter MacDonald and Steven Doris secured a 2-1 reserve win over Forfar.

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SAINTS will get 4200 tickets for the Challenge Cup final clash with Dunfermline on November 25 at Dens Park. The 1700 season ticket holders will get priority. To accommodate regular fans, 800 vouchers will be issued at tomorrow's game on a first come first served basis. While some fans are disappointed that Dunfermline are getting a bigger allocation, the Perth club anticipates there will be a general sale for the final.