INTERNATIONAL BREAK IS WELL TIMED FOR SAINTS

Following Saturday’s win over Airdrie, the management and players now have a fortnight to prepare for the next match – a crucial home game against second place Partick Thistle.

Derek McInnes took in yesterday’s 1-1 draw at Firhill between Thistle and Dundee, a result which leaves us four points ahead of the Glasgow club with a game in hand over them and nine points ahead of Jocky Scott’s men who have played one game less than Saints.

The two weeks between now and the visit of Thistle will be spent getting treatment and rest for the players who need it and some game time under belts for the personnel who need some match action.

That plan commences tonight when Saints travel to meet East Fife in Methil in a Reserve League Cup tie. This is our home fixture but has been switched to New Bayview with a 7.45pm kick off.

Euan McLean, Graham Gartland, Steven Anderson, Gavin Swankie, Chris Millar, Martin Hardie, Peter MacDonald and Graham Barrett will be joined by some younger players for this game.

A closed door game in Hamilton has been arranged for later in the week to give those players ands others some further match action while the weeks break will allow players such as Kevin Rutkiewicz to get some rest and treatment – he is one of a handful of players who have been carrying small knocks which have not kept them out of matches but which would benefit from treatment.

After playing hopefully 90 minutes tonight, Martin Hardie will return south for the final set of injections which seem to have done the trick with his injury.

McInnes says “We will need a range of different qualities in the team for this final run in and Martin gives us a strength any team would like to have. He’s going the right way but I have had too many false dawns with him this season so we will see what the next two weeks brings.”

The Manager has had Club Captain Kevin James watched in his past two games for Ayr United – that loan deal expires after the Somerset Park club’s trip to Stranraer this week – and he hasn’t ruled out the giant stopper having a part to play in what remains of the campaign despite centre half cover already being provided by Graham Gartland and Steven Anderson.

Richie Byrne’s loan from Inverness expires later this week and no decision has been made on any extension.