Injury woes at McDiarmid

Aug 24 2010 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

SAINTS made the last four of the Co-operative Insurance Cup last season and they’d love to top that this term.

But their first challenge is posed tonight in Perth by a Morton side managed by popular one-time Saints winger Allan Moore, with summer departure Stuart McCaffrey in the Greenock line-up.

In the wake of the weekend defeat from Aberdeen, Saints boss Derek McInnes is again forced into changes, with Liam Craig likely to be sidelined for four to six weeks with a hamstring injury and skipper Jody Morris posted missing from the cup tie, with a less serious hamstring ailment.

Finnish keeper Peter Enckelman is out with a thigh muscle injury, paving the way for a return for Graeme Smith, while Dave Mackay is improving but still unavailable. On the plus side, defender Steven Anderson is available after suspension.

McInnes said: “Liam’s injury is severe and Jody would have come off against Aberdeen if we hadn’t used all our subs. Hopefully there is nothing sinister with Peter’s injury but we are having him checked out.

“We face a tricky tie against Morton but it helps that we are at home. Hopefully we can make that count.”

The Perth manager, who checked out Morton for himself at Ross County last week, knows precisely how a First Division side prepares for a cup tie with an SPL outfit, having enjoyed past success in that area himself.

“They will be coming to Perth hoping to cause an upset but we have to beat good teams to progress in the cup. Reaching the semi-final against Rangers was good last year financially for the club and we would all love to reach a final.

“We know we can’t win the league but without getting carried away we know a cup is a possibility. Clubs similar to us have reached finals in recent years.”

Midfielder Chris Millar, a former Cappielow player who still lives in Greenock, has been exchanging banter with former Saint McCaffrey.

He said: “Stuart has been onto me looking for info on our line-up but I’ve been staying tight-lipped. It’s typical of the cup to come up with something like this. He will want to prove a point and maybe show it was a mistake letting him go.

“Stuart will have added incentive to do well.

“I’m playing against my old club so that’s another personal element to the tie. I keep tabs on them and they have been playing well. It’s a totally different team from when I was there.

“But the main thing is winning and making the next round. We are all looking for another good cup run.

“And we have to prepare for this game exactly the same as if it was an SPL team we were playing. It would be great if we could push on and reach a final this season.”

Morton defender McCaffrey opted to leave McDiarmid recently in search of regular football.

He stressed: “It was a wrench to leave McDiarmid because it’s a great club and I have plenty of friends in Perth. I was close to tears but there were no hard feeling or sour grapes. I had a great time at Saints, winning promotion before my injury problems last season. Everyone, including the gaffer, was good to me.

“I was out for six months with a groin problem. I had surgery as a teenager and it had a limited lifespan. So basically I lost my place in the side and football doesn’t hang about for you. The club brought in some players and I felt I might have to wait months for a chance through injury or suspension. I’m 31 now and I really needed games.

“I was onto some of the guys and Derek McInnes and Tony Docherty before the Hearts game wishing them all the best for the season. Who knows, I’ve been doing my coaching badges and it would be great to work with them further down the line.

“I’m looking forward to the cup tie and we are in good shape after beating Partick at the weekend. McDiarmid is a good stage and it will be a test for us.”

McInnes hopes Perth fans will acknowledge McCaffrey’s valuable contribution, stating: “Stuart was a huge part of our promotion team before injury curtailed him. He is a solid professional and Morton have got themselves a fantastic signing. It says a lot for him that he was prepared to take step down to get regular football and with his experience and composure he will be a real asset for the Greenock club.”

TONIGHT’S cup tie is a 7.45pm start and will be played to a finish. Season Tickets are not valid and admission prices are £15, £10 (over 65s and 16-18) and £5 (under 16s)

JOHN Dexter (8) from Pitlochry will be the St Johnstone mascot at tonight’s Co-operative Insurance Cup clash at Perth with Morton. In our competition, he correctly identified Cardiff City as the club Peter Enckelman last played for.

ST Johnstone face Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday at 3pm. Tickets are on sale at McDiarmid between 9.30am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. Admission prices are adults £23 and all concessions £7.