St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright has hailed young striker Chris Kane as “the future of this club”.
The young forward has been tied down on a long-term contract through to the summer of 2018, and Wright is expecting big things from the McDiarmid Park youth product over the next three years.
“Chris deserves a three-year deal,” the Perth boss pointed out.
“We felt it was important to show how much we wanted to keep Kano. That is reflected in the length of contract.
“He has taken note of everything we have told him. He went out to Dumbarton on loan and I have been delighted with his contribution in the games he has started since the turn of the year.
“He only 20 and he is the future of this club.”
Kane may still be goal-less as a Saints player, but it isn’t a statistic that is worrying his manager.
“He just needs a bit of luck in front of goal to get that first one for St Johnstone,” Wright explained.
“He was ready for a tap-in against Dundee United before their lad slid in. But I have no doubt that he will score plenty of goals for this club.
“His contribution is being appreciated by the players. He has played a part in creating goals and is proving a real handful for defenders.
“He is similar to Stevie May in that regard. He will chase down long balls and Chris gets us up the pitch.
“I know strikers are judged on their goals but they will come for Kano.”
The length of the deal reflects Wright’s faith in his player, but it is also there to look after the club’s interests should scouts start to take an interest in Kane.
He said: “The chairman recognises that we want to hold onto our better players and Chris is in that bracket. He will benefit from a long term deal and the club is protecting itself.
“I have no doubt that if he progresses the way we believe, bigger clubs will be interested in him. That’s just the way it is. Look at Dundee United. Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong were doing well and they attracted bids from Celtic. But at least we have him on a long term contract.
“Kano is forging a partnership with Steven MacLean and it will only get better. But he can also play alongside Brian Braham and James McFadden.”
Murray Davidson was another to agree a fresh deal at the weekend – through to 2017.
Wright said: “Murray was doing well until he picked up that calf injury against Celtic. He has been getting back to the form which had him banging on the Scotland door a few years ago.
“It was really a no-brainer to get him fixed-up. He has been operating on shorter contracts since even before his knee operation.
“But we have recognised how hard he has worked after suffering that knee injury a year ago. He will benefit from having the security of a long term contract.”
Meanwhile, Wright stressed that Tam Scobbie wasn’t “dropped” for the Tayside derby.
He said: “It was a tactical decision because I felt Frazer Wright has always handled Ciftci well. He was quiet again at the weekend.
“They are quite a big side now, with McGowan and Anier coming in. We had to deal with a lot of long throws and corners into the box and did so effectively.
“It was an important result for us. It keep us right in the mix for the top six. I’m sure our rivals thought we would drop something at Tannadice given their very good home record.”
Simon Lappin’s knee injury is to be assessed, with a prognosis expected later in the week.