St Johnstone V Kilmarnock at McDiarmid Park : Match Preview

06 November 2015 19:31
St Johnstone V Kilmarnock - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Brian Easton happy for captaincy stint to be short-lived

St Johnstone left-back Brian Easton is ready to hand back the captain's armband to Dave Mackay.

But the Saints defender has savoured skippering the Perth side to wins against Morton and Hamilton.

With Mackay, nicknamed Cup Tie, ruled out by suspension and deputy Chris Millar sidelined by a hamstring strain, the left-back was given the leadership role by manager Tommy Wright.

But he knew it was only a temporary command post until Saturday's Ladbrokes Premiership contest with Kilmarnock.

Easton said: "I was proud to be captain against Morton and at Hamilton.

"When Frazer Wright left for Dumbarton, Midgey stepped up to be vice captain to Cup Tie. But with both of them out I was buzzing to get the armband from the gaffer.

"I am the club captain and I was just keeping the armband warm for Cup Tie until he served his two game suspension. I will hand it back now but with clenched teeth.

"Seriously, it an honour being asked to be captain of this team and it shows you I must be doing something right.

"We have a few leaders on the park and that makes it easy for whoever is captain.

"We had three big players missing at Hamilton - Dave Mackay, Chris Millar and Steven MacLean - which shows the strength in depth we have here."

League Cup semi-finalists Saints have advanced to fourth place in the table and have pieced together eight wins in their last 11 starts.

Midfielder Millar has trained this week and is in the squad after missing five games with a hamstring strain, but Simon Lappin is out after groin surgery.

Top scorer MacLean was rested against Hamilton but will spearhead the Perth attack this weekend.

Kilmarnock teenager Mark O'Hara insists he will play wherever he is told to if it means he can prove himself.

The Scotland Under-21 international has been Killie's utility man in recent months, shifting from defence to midfield and back again.

The former Everton target said: "I made my debut in defence under Kenny Shiels but this season I started off in midfield before being shifted about a bit.

"But I've settled in at right-back the last few games and I feel like I've done well. Hopefully I can kick on now.

"The manager last year told me he saw me as a midfielder but this year he's told me that since I've done well at right-back, there's no reason why I can't stay there for the rest of the season.

"To be honest, I'm not too bothered where I play. Any game time is a bonus and I just want to play."

Kilmarnock are sweating on the fitness of forward Rory McKenzie, who has a tight groin, while defender Darryl Westlake is out with an ankle problem and long-term absentee Chris Johnston remains unavailable after tearing knee ligaments.


Source: PAR