Steve Lomas is not about to let players expect to be first team players. They have to earn the right to play for his team.

St Johnstone new signings Jack Compton and Lee Croft have been told by manager Steve Lomas they will both have to fight to earn their place in his team. The pair could be in the squad for today's game against Hibs after they joined on loan till the end of the season, Compton from Falkirk and Croft from Derby. Lomas knows all about Croft from his time at Norwich, when the Saints manager was the Canaries' youth coach, while Compton has just completed another loan spell at Bradford.
 
Lomas said: "It's added competition and it can only be good for St Johnstone. They are not guaranteed to go straight in, they are going to have to fight and earn the right to get in the team. The boys who are there have been doing well. I know what Lee is all about. He is a wide player who likes to take full-backs on and Jack is similar. It just provides us with competition."
 
Lomas is still making up his mind over a possible deal for former Plymouth, Motherwell, Dundee United and Aberdeen midfielder Jim Paterson, who has been training with the club. Lomas said: "We still haven't decided on Jim. It's a difficult one. I like Jim and it's something we've got to sit down over the next couple of days and discuss with the chairman."
 
St Johnstone travel to Easter Road hoping to halt Hibs short run of wins. Hibs have enjoyed back-to-back wins over Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline. Lomas said: "We know it's going to be difficult. They have scored six goals in their last two games and that will have given them a bit of a lift. It's not an easy place to go to so we know we will have to be at our best. But I'm a firm believer that you should always look after yourself and hopefully that will take care of the result. Pat Fenlon is a very experienced manager and we knew it was only a matter of time before Pat would start to turn it around."