St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright has backed his top goalscorer to improve on last season’s tally.
Michael O’Halloran struck 10 times in the Premiership, mostly from out wide.
And Wright believes the former Celtic and Bolton Wanderers forward is capable of getting nearly double that amount in the new campaign.
“Mikey scored 10 goals for us last season, which is a decent return for a wide player,” he said.
“He’s had a good pre-season and has looked excellent at times through the middle.
“He’s got pace and is a handful, so he causes teams problem.
“How do you get from 10 goals to 18 or 20? I think that’s down to showing a bit of composure in and around the box.
“He’s been working hard on it and I believe that with a wee bit more belief in himself he can easily get a higher number.
“I’m not putting pressure on him and setting him a target, but he’s definitely someone I believe can score more goals.
“He’s capable of doing it.”
Wright put O’Halloran’s 2014/15 achievments into context.
“People forget that last season was only his first full season with us,” he explained.
“Although he’s 24, he hadn’t played much football before coming to us.
“He made a good impact during the first six months but last year was the first time he had a full run at it over the course of a season.
“He has learned from that and I can see the improvement in him.
“He gets into good positions and with his pace he can frighten teams.”
Wright is happy with the options he now has available to him up front, and he’s hoping that will result in Saints being a more free-scoring outfit this term.
He said: “I think the team as a whole has more goals in it this season and I hope that’s the case.
“We have brought in John Sutton, who is a proven scorer, as well as Graham Cummins and he’s someone I think will do well in this league.
“Chris Kane can score goals and Steven MacLean has proved he can score goals in the past.
“Hopefully we’ll get a full season out of Macca because he’s missed four months in both of the last two seasons.
“So I think we’re well off up front at the moment.
“We have brought Liam in to give us a goal threat from midfield and I think there’s improvement in Michael O’Halloran, so I’d hope we’ll score more this season.”
Today’s last pre-season friendly against Blackpool kicks off at 3pm and season tickets are valid.
Only the Main Stand will be open.
Admission for non-season ticket holders is adults £10; over 65s/under-18s £5; under-13s (accompanied by a paying adult) free.