Australian loan shark Mark Robertson is in contention for a starting place today. With Mark Reilly struggling with an ankle problem, the committed midfielder is the perfect deputy. The Dundee player was sent off in a bout of frustration late on in the Raith defeat but has now served his suspension.
"I didn’t feel I deserved to be sent off. At first I thought it would be the Hamilton cup match that I was banned for but then it became clear that it would be the next league match, myself and the manager were both really disappointed."
On the Falkirk result he said;
"The confidence should now be there after the win at Falkirk. Falkirk have been a thorn in the flesh of St Johnstone so for the boys to beat them 3-0, with all three goals top quality, was a big psychological boost."
Saints have been unpredictable against the "lesser clubs" but Robertson believes;
"You see it happen all the time—teams winning against the bigger sides and then flopping against the so-called lesser clubs. Being able to beat both is the mark of a good team and that’s what we have to show against Ayr United. Some of these matches won’t be the prettiest, but the most important thing at the moment is getting good results."
Robertson arrived last season on loan from Dundee, and served as a catalyst in the turn around of form. On his return this season he is impressed by the quality drafted in over the summer;
"The team is definitely more experienced than when I was here on loan last season because we now have players of international class. The standard of player here would compete in the Premier League."
Meanwhile Stuart McLuskey will be fielded as a trialist for Falkirk today. Hughes confirmed his interest in McLuskey who has been training with Falkirk this week. "I’d like to sign him as he’s a very versatile player but in the end it’s all down whether the club can afford to take on anyone else,"