Missing out on the chance of SPL action right at the death of last season was not a lot of fun for St Johnstone players. They are determined to go one better this season.

Perth is a hive of activity as St Johnstone players get ready for the new season. Manager Owen Coyle is a hard taskmaster and has the players enjoying double training session at various locations around the city. The club's first game of the season is just over a week away and players like long-serving striker Peter MacDonald are working harder than ever to be ready. He said: "Towards the end of the last season I was getting a bit of a niggle from my left knee so I went down to London during the summer for a tidy up operation which appears to have had the desired effect. Unfortunately it meant that I couldn't do much work during the close-season so I am a wee bit behind the rest of the guys but I am digging in hard to catch up and I'm feeling fine."

From a personal point of view, MacDonald looked back on last season with a degree of satisfaction, not least because he was the only player to participate in every single game. He admitted: "I was surprised when I was told that statistic at the end of the season and given the injury troubles I had endured prior to that then it has to be a plus point for me that I was able to take part to such an extent. Obviously I would have liked to have been on from the start more in the first half of the season but it was all about getting fully match fit again."

The former Rangers man is clear on his ambitions for the season ahead. He went on: "The loss of Jason (Scotland) will be significant given his goals return but in myself and Steven Milne we have two players who we know can score goals and from what I've seen in training Dyron Dall and David Weatherston will certainly add to the options the Manager has up front. My aim is to be in the starting line up regularly and help us turn some of last season's draws into wins and hopefully that will see us finish top of the league come next April."

Editor
Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba.net)

Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba.net)

This is Scottish-Fitba.Net