St Johnstone

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Luke Robinson is to return to St Johnstone on loan for the rest of the season from Wigan.

The 22-year-old was recalled by Shaun Maloney at the start of the month after impressing for the Saints, making 18 appearances and keeping six clean sheets.

"Really pleased with that," manager Craig Levein said.

"He was doing very well prior to the break and obviously we didn’t really want to lose him but he is not our player. I am grateful to Wigan for letting him come back.

"He is improving, I think he helps the team. He is such an enthusiastic guy and he is good for the dressing room as well, so it is good for us.

"Tony Gallacher has been training as well so it is quite interesting that we have got a wee contest going on there. he good thing is Luke can play left centre-back in a three and probably could play left centre-back in a two."

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Tyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland

Nicky Clark says he is "raring to go" amid what has been a "frustrating season" for him on the injury front.

The 32-year-old returned to action for St Johnstone in October after being sidelined for eight months with an ankle injury.

After a handful of games he was ruled out for a long period again because of a calf issue, but the striker has played in the Saints' last two matches and is hoping to have a key part to play in the second half of the campaign.

"It has been a frustrating season for me," Clark admitted. "I got the injury about this time last year and finding it hard to get back, but now I am feeling really good, I am feeling fit, I have managed to get a bit of game time before Christmas, and got a few goals.

"I am feeling good and raring to go and hopefully get a good end to the season.

"Looking back over my career, I have been very fortunate I have not really had any injuries. The one I picked up, I think it was last February time, set me back a lot, I found it hard to get back, but I pushed it a wee bit too quickly to get back with the situation we were in at the end of last season.

"I tried to get back , that backfired, set me back again, I had to go and get another operation to get one of the screws removed that got put in to begin with.

"It has been frustrating but I am feeling really good now, since the manager and Andy Kirk came in I have worked really hard on my fitness and stuff, I am feeling good. So, hopefully no more injuries from now on."

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Tyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland

Craig Levein says "you could argue" Airdrieonians are "in a better rhythm" than St Johnstone going into tomorrow's Scottish Cup tie between the sides.

While the Saints haven't been in action in the top flight since 27 December, their opponents have continued to be play competitive games in the Scottish Championship.

Levein said: "Airdrie have played through the period where we have been [inactive]. We had a few days off, a week or something like that, and then we have pretty much been training most days since.

"So, you could argue maybe they are in a better rhythm than we are, because our rhythm has stopped completely for a while.

"But all I can do is look at the training and try and gauge from that where we are and how ready we are to play, but the test comes tomorrow.

"I am not even thinking about a good run in the cup, I am thinking about what we are going to do tomorrow, that is all that matters.

"We need to be at our best to go away to Airdrie and come back with a victory so that is taking up all of my thought process."

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St Johnstone manager Craig Levein has been speaking to the media ahead of their Scottish Cup trip to Airdrieonians on Saturday.

Here is what he had to say:

• On the prospect of guarding against being on the wrong end of a cup shock he said: "It is not something that I haven’t faced before, and one of the things I do know is that if there is any complacency at all within our ranks then it is a potential banana skin."

• Levein says he is not even thinking about a run in the cup, because what they do tomorrow "is taking up all of my thought process".

• This is Saints' first game of 2024, while Airdrieonians have been playing competitive games, with Levein suggesting "you could argue maybe they are in a better rhythm than we are".

• On Signings - having brought in a trio of new faces so far in this window, Levein said: "I am trying to do another couple of things but again that will probably rely on generating some money by freeing up something else."

• Team News: New signings David Keltjens and Benjamin Mbunga-Kimpioka are available, but Kerr Smith misses out - however he should be available for the midweek game against Aberdeen.

St Johnstone return to domestic action on Saturday with a trip to Airdrieonians in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

What team would you select if you were in Craig Levein's position?

Put yourself in the manager's shoes and pick your Saints XI here.

St Johnstone are keen to sign Heart of Midlothian midfielder Connor Smith. (Courier - subscription required), external

Saints and Motherwell have made moves for Smith. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip

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St Johnstone legend David Wotherspoon believes the Saints have become "more stuffy" under Craig Levein, and hailed Graham Carey's influence in attacking areas.

The Perth side were winless and five points adrift at the bottom of the Scottish Premiership when Steven MacLean was sacked in October, but have since climbed to tenth in the table under Levein's management.

"They've certainly started to pull some results together," Wotherspoon said, speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "They've been more resilient, more stuffy, hard to beat.

"And they're certainly pulling out points at the last minute, but also with that bit of quality like Graham Carey can provide. He's scored some terrific goals for them recently and set up plenty as well. So he's their main attacking threat. When he's not on the pitch, sometimes it's hard for them.

"I think they've built relationships now around the squad, with what it looks like on the pitch. They're starting to build these relationships with players that have just come in, that players that have come back from injury, they're starting to gel more as a squad and obviously add in new additions."

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Dimitar Mitov has has established himself as one of the Scottish Premiership's top goalkeepers after signing from Cambridge United in the summer, according to The Herald's Aidan Smith.

The Bulgarian has been an ever-present in the league for the Saints, and has kept seven clean sheets in all competitions.

"I think he is one of the top goalkeepers in the league," Smith said, speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I know everyone's raving about Jack Butland this season, but I think Mitov's right up there.

"He's a top talent and honestly I don't know where St. Johnstone would be without him this year. He's kept them in games, especially during the first part of the campaign.

"I think the club will struggle holding on to him for much longer. He's going to go on to bigger and better things at some point."

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Liam McLeod is joined by former St Johnstone midfielder David Wotherspoon and The Herald’s Aidan Smith to review the Saints’ season so far.

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Jamie Beatson, We Are Perth, external

Three signings in the bag, and maybe another to come before the trip to Airdrie at the weekend.

We badly needed it and hopefully the time since our last game has allowed injured and recovering players to get fully up to speed and the new arrivals to integrate into the squad.

We have a very important run of fixtures coming up against other teams in the same area of the table as us. A good run could send us towards safety even at this early point. The opposite is unthinkable.

The profile of the signings is interesting - and how they’ll be deployed remains to be seen - but more quality on the ball and in an attacking sense is absolutely critical.

St Johnstone boss Craig Levein hopes Luke Robinson can pick up where he left off if he returns from Wigan. (The Courier)

Read the rest of Tuesday's gossip.

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The January window is a curious beast.

Notoriously tough to navigate, you never quite know what quality of player is going to stumble through the door and be thrust into the madness of a midway season. Sometimes, they're a revelation. Sometimes, they're rotten.

We're asking you to cast your mind back and tell us the best player St Johnstone have signed in a winter window, and the January transfer that still gives you nightmares to this day.

Let us know.

Luke Robinson, the 22-year-old full-back recalled early from his season-long loan from Wigan Athletic to St Johnstone at the start of January, is poised to rejoin the Perth club for the rest of the season. (Sky Sports)

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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We asked for your thoughts on St Johnstone's best summer recruit, now we're halfway through the season.

Here's what you had to say:

James: Dimitar Mitov hands down. He’s been impeccable and our best player alongside Dan Phillips. His shot-stopping speaks for itself but what I like most about him is his determination to get us on the front foot whenever he collects the ball. Luke Robinson also deserves praise - he kept improving game by game during his time at the club.

Neil: Mitov is an exceptional goalkeeper - one of if not the best in the whole league when you look at his stats. Saints are very lucky to have him.

St Johnstone defender Liam Parker has been recalled from his loan at Civil Service Strollers, and will now spend the second half of the season out on loan at League One side Edinburgh City.

The 19-year-old played nine times in the Lowland League, scoring one goal, and will now have the chance to test himself at a higher level.

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New signing David Keltjens has vowed to give his all for the cause as St Johnstone fight to avoid the drop.

The 28-year-old - previously with Hapoel Tel Aviv in his native Israel - joined the Perthshire club on Tuesday, and said one former Saints encouraged him to head to McDiarmid Park.

Speaking to club media, he said: "I'm very happy. I'm looking forward to this experience, this new chapter in my career. I can't wait to start.

"Since the beginning of my career, I knew I wanted to play outside of Israel, in Europe. Somewhere I can improve my game and try new things, build myself as a player. This one is looking like a great challenge for me.

"It's my first experience [of Scottish football] but I know many Israelis who have played in the Scottish Premiership, and I'm a good friend of a few of them.

"Liel Abada, now a Celtic player. Guy Melamed played here. Nir Bitton, Ofir Marciano. I speak with a few them and heard only good things about this country and this league.

"Everywhere you play, there is a battle for the place. I will always try my best in trainings and on the pitch - that's what's guided me throughout my career.

"I give 100%. I hope to have as many good days as possible. I will always fight for my team and my friends, coach, fans, teammates, everyone."

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This one might be fairly obvious...

Regardless, with the January window now open, we're asking you to reflect on last summer's dealings.

Who has been the best arrival at McDiarmid Park this season, and how have they made their mark on the side? What are some of their highlights since rocking up in Perth?

Let us know.

Defender David Keltjens has signed for St Johnstone until the end of the season, subject to international clearance.

The 28-year old was most recently with Hapoel Tel Aviv and has six caps for Israel.

The club say Keltjens will join Craig Levein's squad when they return to training on Thursday.

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St Johnstone manager Craig Levein believes Matt Smith, who has been a key man for Saints since arriving in the summer, can get back into Wales squad in 2024. (The Courier)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

Double cup winner Callum Booth has joined The Spartans on loan for the remainder of the season.

An important squad player in St Johnstone's most successful season, the 32-year-old has struggled for game time at McDiarmid Park in recent months.

Having broken through at Hibs, Booth returns to the capital to join up with Dougie Samuel's side chasing back-to-back promotions.

Fourth-placed Spartans currently have a comfortable cushion in the League 2 play-offs, but trail leaders Peterhead by 14 points, though they do have two games in hand.

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How else would you rather spend your Valentine's Day?

After St Johnstone's visit to Dundee was called off last month, the fixture has been rescheduled for Wednesday 14 February with kick-off at 19:45 GMT.

The reverse fixture saw a rousing comeback from the Perth Saints, with a late double from Max Kucheriavyi sealing a 2-2 draw at McDiarmid Park.

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