Source: team_talk
Lomas keen to return to action
St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas believes his players will be refreshed and raring to get back into action against Motherwell.
The Steelmen played six games in 18 days ahead of the fortnight's shutdown which the Northern Irishman believes came at the right time for his squad.
Ahead of the trip to Fir Park, Lomas said: "The players had played a lot of football before the break.
"With the extra game in the Scottish Cup, we played more football than any other team in the SPL.
"It was a very tough period and albeit we took four points from our last two games, there were signs of tiredness.
"So it was great to give the players four or five days off right away to freshen up.
"But we have been back training hard and are ready to go again."
The Perth side resume their campaign in sixth spot in the SPL, four points behind third-placed Motherwell.
The two sides drew 1-1 at Fir Park earlier in the season but Stuart McCall's men triumphed 3-1 at McDiarmid Park in November.
The former West Ham and Manchester City midfielder, who saw midfielder Liam Craig sign a pre-contract earlier in the week with Hibernian, is bracing himself for another tough encounter.
He said: "Motherwell have lost Jamie Murphy in the transfer window but they still have got lots of good players like Lasley, Hateley, Higdon and Humphrey.
"So I don't care what anyone says, they have a squad that any SPL manager would like.
"They have been something of a bogey team for us although we will have to defend better than we did at home against them the last time.
"But we are looking to kick on in the second half of the season and finish in the top six."
