James McFadden will start against his old team tonight, after St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright decided not to risk giving him three starts in six days.
Wright explained: “James is just back playing and with his past injuries it is advisable to keep him from playing so many games in such a short period. That should be avoided.
“We also thought Michael’s pace (Michael O’Halloran) would cause them problems, which it did, so it was a no brainer with James. We had planned to bring him on when it looked like extra time. But he will be fresh and ready to go.”
Veteran defender Frazer Wright may have appeared a contender to be stood down given the quick turn-around between matches, but his manager is unlikely to tinker with the back-line.
He said: “Frazer is normally a concern with so many games close together – not just this season – but the injection has given him a new lease of life. He is feeling a lot better. “He was playing in pain earlier in the season. He will be fine for this one. He is a leader and organiser on the pitch and we have looked more solid. He has shown the sort of form he showed all last year.”
The phrase “six-pointer” has been trotted out for this Friday night clash given the unexepected early season struggles of both teams.
Wright insists that he doesn’t feel extra pressure ahead of the match though.
He pointed out: “People say both clubs have probably been punching above their weight for a few years. Look at Stuart’s record and he is still one of the top managers in the league. As he says, you can’t have everything in management. It doesn’t always go well for you.
“They are in a similar run to us. I’m sure like us they are working hard to get out of it. But we have to make sure for them it starts after Friday night.
“There are always surprise packages and people might say Kilmarnock and Hamilton fit that bill so far.
“We aren’t happy with where we are and we know we have to do better. We believe we can and will do better to move up the table.
“We can open up and gap on them or they can draw level. But the pressure is on to win every game. That is how I have always approached the job. I don’t feel under any more pressure than I did this time last year. If you feel under pressure that can affect how you do your job.
“The last two solid performances will help us. Everyone can argue about how good Rangers are but I look at their squad and I’m sure most top league managers would take most of their players thinking they would improve the squad.
“Where we might be lacking in self belief is in the final third. We are getting into good positions and we have had good possession. But we have to make more of it. Do that and we will get the goals to get us out of the position we are in.”
Simon Lappin came off in midweek with a thigh strain and is doubtful, while David Wotherspoon is definitely out with tonsilitis.