St Johnstone

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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With the new Premiership season starting this weekend, BBC Sport Scotland have been taking a look at some of the new faces to keep an eye on.

He is not exactly a new signing, but Benjamin Mbunga Kimpioka appears to be a striker reborn following a fairly unspectacular first six months with St Johnstone.

The 24-year-old has picked up the mantle of chief goalscorer in the absence through injury of Uche Ikpeazu, the summer arrival from Port Vale, and uncertainty surrounding Adama Sidibeh after a failed bid from Swansea City since the Gambian's own meteoric rise to prominence after arriving from Northern Premier League side Warrington Rylands in February.

Former Sunderland forward Kimpioka scored five times in four League Cup group games and will be hoping to improve on the strike rate of three in 17 in the last Premiership half season.

Read the rest of Clive's piece here.

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Kyle Cameron says his St Johnstone teammates have been a huge help after he was named captain.

The 27-year-old joined the Perth side from Notts County on a season-long loan this summer and was selected by Craig Levein to be the club captain this season, despite the temporary nature of his move.

"Since I've come into full time men's football I've always had some sort of role whether it's captain or vice captain," Cameron told Sky Sports, external.

"It's familiar for me now but it was a surprise coming in and being named captain within the first day of being here. It was a nice extra responsibility to take on board.

"The senior boys have helped out when need be, pointed me in the right direction. In a lot of places it could have been a difficult one but coming here it was really easy."

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Hearts defender Lewis Neilson has joined fellow Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone on a season-long loan.

The Dundee United youth product has also signed a year's extension to his deal with his parent club, now running until 2026.

Neilson, who spent last term on loan at Championship side Partick Thistle, has struggled for game time at Tynecastle since joining from United in 2022.

Hearts boss Steven Naismith says the move to Perth will give the 21-year-old "the chance to take even bigger strides by playing consistently in the Premiership".

Meanwhile, Neilson says the decision to join St Johnstone "was a no-brainer" and he feels Craig Levein's "style of play is really going to help my game".

Saints manager Levein added: "Lewis is an exciting defensive prospect and I am sure he will help us over the course of the campaign."

Sam Miller
Fan writer

With new owners and a heap of new and untested players at this level, it's so difficult to gauge how St Johnstone will do this season.

A new approach to scouting has seen us bring in players from Portugal's lower tiers, Ghana, English football academies and the assistant manager's spare room in Andy Kirk's laddie Makenzie.

One positive is that we've navigated the group stages of the League Cup for the first time since we won it, plus our striking options are as good as they have looked in a long time.

With new American owners in, it's a time of change at the club and I hope we can push on and return to the standards that made us look up the table instead of down.

The opening match against Aberdeen at McDiarmid Park will hopefully provide some of the answers.

• Predicted finish: Sixth

• Standout player: Adama Sidibeh

• Game most looking forward to: Aberdeen in league opener

Sam Miller can be found on the Dogger Saints Podcast., external

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Craig Levein was delighted with how St Johnstone responded to their surprise loss to Alloa Athletic through the week as his side beat East Fife to top their League Cup group.

The manager was scathing of his players as they were stunned by League One Alloa through the week, but they thrashed the Fifers 5-1 to progress to the knockout round.

“We dug a hole for ourselves at Alloa during the week and we managed to get out of it,” Levein told Saints TV.

“Both our strikers got two goals and Makenzie [Kirk] got his first goal for St Johnstone and in general I thought we defended pretty well."

Adama Sidibeh and Benjamin Kimpioka both scored two with Kirk - son of assistant manager Andy - adding the fifth late on.

“We were trying to get as many goals as we could in case there was a draw at Morton. We got five, which was pleasing.

“It’s exciting for me because we still have Uche [Ikpeazu] and Nicky [Clark] to come into the group so we have real competition for places.”

Drey Wright insists St Johnstone must banish the negativity that plagued the club last season. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

St Johnstone are keen to sign Heart of Midlothian defender Lewis Neilson on loan but face fierce competition from several other Scottish clubs for the versatile 21-year-old. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

As he looks for a striker, Ian Murray has confessed Raith Rovers would "look at the options" if 31-year-old Stevie May was made available by St Johnstone, but the manager is unaware of any formal discussions between the clubs. (The Courier), external

St Johnstone youth defender Callan Hamill has travelled with Arsenal’s under-18 squad for pre-season, but the 15-year-old is facing a decision on his future as Celtic have tabled a three-year contract offer. (The Athletic), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Kilmarnock's Premiership match against St Johnstone at Rugby Park next month will now take place on Sunday, 11 August at 15:00 BST.

The game was originally scheduled to take place a day prior but has been changed because of the Ayrshire side's involvement in Europe on the Thursday before.

Derek McInnes' men will be playing Molde or Silkeborg in Europa League third-round round qualifying if they get past Cercle Bruges.

If Kilmarnock lose to the Belgian side, they will drop into the same stage of Conference League qualifying and will face Tromso of Norway or KuPS of Finland.

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St Johnstone manager Craig Levein admits his side were "terrible" after crashing to a shock 3-2 defeat against side Alloa Athletic in the League Cup.

A back-and-forth second half saw Aaron Essel dismissed and a stoppage time Jack Sanders goal narrow the gam after Alloa had taken a 3-1 lead.

The Perth side now know they must beat East Fife and hope Morton can stop Alloa to guarantee themselves a place in the last-16 draw on Sunday.

“I thought we were terrible, I really do,” Levein said to the club’s X account, external afterwards.

“We not only got outfought but at times we were outplayed as well. I know we were down to ten men for a large part of the game but the way we were playing I’m not sure that would have made a difference.”

“We’ve had chances to score and didn’t take them, I just honestly think it was a terrible, terrible performance.”

After previously beating Brechin and Morton in the group stage, St Johnstone had been on course to qualify for the knockout stage of the competition - but now know reaching the draw is out of their hands.

“That’s the biggest disappointment,” admitted Levein.

“We were in a really good position and rather than trying to get the game by the scruff of the neck and dominate the match we didn’t do that, and it was a poor performance.

“We absolutely need to get a reaction, we spoke about that after the match. We need to turn up on Saturday and play like our lives depend on it because we didn’t do it tonight.”

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The draw for the last 16 of the Scottish League Cup will take place on Sunday.

It will be broadcast live on Premier Sports following their coverage of Motherwell v Partick Thistle at Fir Park, which kicks off at 15:00 BST.

The top-flight's five European representatives - holders Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Kilmarnock and St Mirren - will enter the draw and will also be seeded, along with the three best group winners.

All last-16 ties are scheduled to played on the weekend of 17/18 August.

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St Johnstone have announced they will rename their main stand in honour of former owner Geoff Brown.

Brown recently sold the Perth club to American Adam Webb, ending his 38-year reign.

Saints say their opening Premiership match of the season at home to Aberdeen on 5 August "will celebrate" Brown, who will also be named as life president of St Johnstone.

Following the Brown's sale, the club say "it quickly became a priority to honour his legacy".

In a statement, new owner Webb added: "Geoff's contribution to St Johnstone over 38 years has been nothing short of heroic.

"I hope that all supporters will make extra efforts to attend and bring family and friends along on 5 August for what should be a magical night at McDiarmid Park."

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein is pondering whether to go back into the transfer market for another goalkeeper as his current options lack experience. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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St Johnstone are the latest team to get the documentary treatment as the Perth club have announced a project with multi-Emmy award-winning film-maker - and Scottish football fan - Jamie Doran.

They say the documentary, which will also benefit from the work of Clover Films, will "encompass every facet of our loyal and unparalleled football family".

Filming will officially begin when Saints start their new Premiership campaign at home to Aberdeen on Monday, 5 August.

"Forget Sunderland, Wrexham or any other film series, because this one will be different," Doran said.

"I remember too well the freezing, miserable Wednesday nights in Dingwall, Arbroath, Inverness and elsewhere, looking around the grounds in awe of the numbers who had chosen to turn up and support their teams.

"What is it that drives them? That’s what I want to find out."

The Perth club's new owner Adam Webb added: "5 August will be a thrilling and historic night... beginning our journey with Jamie Doran and Clover Films to tell the story of Scottish football by exploring the people and traditions of St Johnstone."

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Former St Johnstone midfielder David Wotherspoon says the decision to hand on-loan Kyle Cameron the captaincy is a "strange one" - but he feels it highlights the belief manager Craig Levein has in the defender.

Having signed from Notts County, where he was also skipper, on a season-long deal this summer, Cameron was then confirmed as Saints captain for the 2024-25 campaign.

The former Scotland Under-21 international takes over from centre-back Liam Gordon, who left following the expiry of his contract to join Motherwell.

Club legend Wotherspoon feels his ex-club "will definitely miss" the influence of former team-mate Gordon, meaning Cameron has big boots to fill.

"I think it's a strange one having a loan player who's only going to be there for a certain amount of time as your captain," Wotherspoon told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"But at the end of the day, [Levein] thinks that's the right thing to do and they've got to believe and put faith in that, so they've got to really help him out as well as the captain.

"No matter who it is, they've got to stick together as a team and really push on this season."

As well as the departure of Gordon, St Johnstone have watched goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov head for the exit door this summer.

The Bulgarian left to join Aberdeen earlier in the window, a move Wotherspoon says he "deserves" after an impressive campaign last term.

Veteran defensive duo Andy Considine and Ryan McGowan have also departed, which has Wotherspoon fearing a lack of experience could potentially be a problem.

"I watched games last season and Mitov was making save after save and keeping them in the games at times," he adds.

"And with Considine gone and even Ryan McGowan as well, that's three who were playing regularly last season with a lot of experience.

"They've brought in quite a few younger boys. In the middle of the park, they've got a lot of players but not much experience.

"Cammy McPherson, who seems to be the main midfielder, is still pretty young and has had his fair share of injuries. Hopefully he can stay injury free this season and get a good run at it."

Having now put together his own St Johnstone squad, Saints fan Jamie Beatson feels this season "is all on" manager Craig Levein to get right.

Click here to listen to more on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

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Ray Bradshaw previews the season ahead for St Johnstone with club legend David Wotherspoon and fan Jamie Beatson.

Click here to listen on BBC Sounds.

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein is pleased with the competition for places he has up front. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

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St Johnstone have signed striker Makenzie Kirk from Heart of Midlothian for an undisclosed fee.

The 20-year-old, who is the son of Saints' assistant manager Andy Kirk, scored 43 goals in 48 games for Hearts B in the Lowland League.

He spent the second half of last season on loan at Hamilton Academical, making eight appearances without finding the net.

"I love to score goals, get in behind and work hard off the ball," Kirk told the Perth club's website. "That is what you get from me.

"You have to be there to score goals and that is one thing I have always been good at. I like to get on the end of things and put it in the back of the net."