Saints hindered by injury pile-up

Jul 29 2008 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

LIKE so many of his McDiarmid Park predecessors, Derek McInnes must await dispatches from the treatment room before formulating team plans for a league campaign which slips into gear this weekend.

St Johnstone lost possession of the Challenge Cup memorably secured last term with a dismal 2-1 first round loss away to upwardly mobile Ross County.

And while that has clearly irked the manager, it’s the casualty count - and the ongoing search for a left-back - which was hogging his attention yesterday.

Midfield linchpin Jody Morris is out for three weeks with an aggravated hamstring strain and he won’t be the only Perth player sidelined for the opening league game against Livingston on Saturday.

Striker Steven Milne was removed from the fray in Dingwall and his groin strain will require around 10 days rest.

Worryingly, Steven Anderson has been sent to a specialist for a verdict on an ankle injury.

On the plus side, McInnes is hopeful of having defender Kevin James and perhaps even keeper Alan Main back in contention.

The club captain is hoping to post a full week’s training while the veteran goalie, who is on the road back from shoulder surgery, could get a run-out in a bounce game later in the week.

McInnes is well aware the vacant left-back role must be filled before the weekend.

He stressed: “We are trying to resolve that. We have identified a target and we are working hard to bring him to the club.”

Reflecting on a weekend wake-up call, McInnes admitted frankly: “There were few positives to take from the game and it was a poor defence of a trophy we took great pride in winning last season.

“We wanted to defend it properly and we didn’t do it. It’s my responsibility and it’s hurting.

“I was disappointed in the manner in which we lost the cup tie.

“We are way better than that and had a lot of supporters up there on Saturday.

“The league was always the priority and that is where we will be judged.

“We can’t afford any hangover from this going into the Livi game.”

McInnes admits a tight defence is vital to mount a successful promotion push – highlighting title winning Hamilton’s frugal backline last term – and Saints have been fragile in pre-season. That has to change.

“We lost two poor goals against County,” he admitted. “County were hard-working and bubbly but I didn’t feel they were any better than us.

“But one of the few positives was a goal for Collin Samuel.”

The manager admits two early injuries and further disruption didn’t help the cause but he stressed: “I still felt we had the necessary quality and experience on the park.”

Former Chelsea midfielder Morris trained with the physio on Sunday but suffered a reaction late in the session. McInnes said: “Jody is gutted and it’s a setback.

He’s at least two or three weeks away and it’s a real blow for us. He was terrific in pre-season.”