Place is left for Mr Right

Jul 18 2008 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

STUART McCAFFREY is ready to kick-start his St Johnstone career.

And he could stake a claim for a first team berth tomorrow as Saints head north to face his former club Inverness Caley Thistle in the Highland capital.

It’s a step-up from previous warm-up games for Derek McInnes and his squad, who got another run behind the gates of Rangers’ Murray Park complex yesterday, with a trialist full-back being assessed against Romanian tourist FC Timosoare.

While a French left-back has headed for home after a run in the 3-1 midweek win over East Stirlingshire and a potential German recruit won’t be coming to Scotland, McInnes ran the rule over a 20-year-old player being moved on by a Premiership club from south of the border.

The Perth manager, as ever, has done his homework and the youngster came highly recommended by contacts in England. He said: “I do have cover in the short-term for the left-back slot but I want the right man in.”

With Owen Coyle’s Burnley at McDiarmid on Wednesday, coming bard on the heels of the Caley Jags, McInnes admits it’s time to shift through the gears.

“I have already started thinking about the line-up for Inverness.

“It’s time to get more football into the lads and quite a few will play 90 minutes.

“As a player I was always conscious of needing game time before the real thing.

“The Murray Park match was a bonus and it was good of Rangers to grant access to their facilities.”

Once again, McInnes has made use of valuable contacts at a former club, following his excursion to Birmingham to access the West Brom set-up.

The only players out of contention for the Inverness clash are recuperating keeper Alan Main and midfielder Kevin Moon, who is playing catch-up. A groin injury has limited his training since returning to the fold.

Main, however, is progressing after shoulder surgery and may resume training next week.

McCaffrey got a run at right-back this week and he’s eager to make up for lost time.

Having arrived on loan in January, with a longer-term commitment agreed, the defender made an instant impact, netting in a 2-0 debut win over Partick at Perth.

But that turned out to be the end of his season as a foot injury ruled him out of the new manager’s plans.

He enjoyed seven years at Inverness as the club stepped-up up through the divisions.

Now, McCaffrey is eager to make up for lost time and prove himself to the Perth public.

McInnes said: “Stuart is desperate to get going at last and he’s been working hard for months.

“Obviously the frustration is there because of that injury from pretty much day one. But he showed up well in his debut and gave fans a taste of his passing ability.

“Stuart has done all the training and played a bit of football. He’s getting there and we have options at the back.”

It’s Premier opposition this weekend and McInnes said: “We have been scoring goals but also conceding and that’s a bit disappointing.

“Mistakes happen in pre-season but now the lads have to start laying down standards.

“This should be a good game with a decent crowd.”

SEASON tickets are valid for Wednesday’s home game with Championship side Burnley. It has a 7.30pm kick-off and admission is £10 and £5.

SAINTS will go into the hat for the first round draw of the rebranded Co-operative Insurance Cup on Tuesday at Hampden Park.