St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright is hoping that new signing Simon Lappin will add a dimension to his team that has been missing for over a year.
The void left by Liam Craig was never filled last season, and the Perth boss is delighted that long-term target Lappin has turned down an offer from the United States to give him the left-footed midfield presence he has been searching for.
The former Scotland under-21 international has signed a two-year deal and will go straight into the squad for Saturday’s match against Aberdeen.
Wright said: “Simon is one we have been tracking for a while now. He had other offers, including one of maybe moving to the MLS in the States.
“I was waiting to see what he decided in terms of his life going forward.
“I have known him since I was at Norwich City. He is a good footballer and someone who will add quality to the team.
“We were right in there when he and his wife decided they wanted to bring the family back to Scotland.
“Once we had established that we quickly got a deal done and I am glad to get him in.
“Simon is left footed, experienced, he can play in a three or a four across midfield and at a push he can fill a left-back role.
“Good left-footers are like hen’s teeth. Since we lost Liam Craig to Hibs in midfield/forward areas we haven’t had natural left-footers. I do like that balance in midfield.”
Lappin came through the ranks at St Mirren, but since 2007 has played all his football (apart from a short loan spell at Motherwell) in England.
He helped Norwich to back-to-back promotions and played for the Canaries in the top flight. Cardiff City and Sheffield United have been his most recent clubs.
Wright is an admirer of his new signing’s attitude as well as his football ability.
“We have given him a two year deal and that shows how highly I rate Simon,” he pointed out.
“Speaking to him, he is hungry for football. He was at Cardiff and didn’t play a lot and went out on loan to Sheffield United in League One. He isn’t one of those guys content to pick up a wage without playing. He is keen to make a difference and I think he will.
“He knows Scottish football and a few of the lads from his time up here with St Mirren so he will have no trouble settling in.
“He has been in training with the development squad at Norwich over the summer so his fitness is fine. He is short of match fitness but I will involve him in the squad against Aberdeen. And we are looking to get a bounce game for him next week and we will take it from there. We will ease him in.”
The capture of Lappin leaves a new striker as the last remaining part of the jigsaw to be filled.
“Strikers are even harder to come by,” Wright admitted. “Everyone seems to be looking for one.
“We have a Dutch striker coming in next week to take a look at him. I have a loan option as well. We are still making inquiries.
“We thought we had someone signed this week but that fell through at the last minute.
“It is frustrating but Steven MacLean is fit, Adam Morgan has come in and young Chris Kane is doing well. He scored a great goal in the under-20s this week.
“In a perfect world we would get someone in and he could go out on loan to help his development. But if not we will go with what we have got. I don’t want to take someone just for the sake of it before the window closes.
“Things can change very quickly, with Premier and Championship clubs in England letting players out on loan.”
Wright has everyone available for Saturday’s match, bar Murray Davidson, who is himself nearing a first-team comeback.
Captain Dave Mackay has succeeded in his bid to overturn his red card from last week’s 3-0 defeat by Celtic, with the SFA confirming his reprieve.
The Dons will be tough opponents, as always, Wright stressed.
“Aberdeen have been able to strengthen and I expect them to be there or thereabouts again for second place,” Wright said.
“They have a good mix of experience and younger players. Derek has the place rocking up there. He has done a tremendous job and will be looking to push on.
“Games have been tight between the teams over the last few seasons. We need to bounce back from Hamilton.
“We’d have liked more points on the board but could easily have been two points better off and unbeaten.”
* Former Manchester City team-mate Shaun Goater has spent the week with Saints as he tries to get into football management.
“If he was 10 years younger and two stones lighter I would be thinking of signing him,” Wright joked.