Signing an out-and-out number nine could give St Johnstone a “different dimension”, according to winger Craig Conway.
But that prospect remains an if rather than a when.
And not adding a new forward to the squad before the transfer window closes shouldn’t prevent the Perth side from becoming a more effective attacking force.
The likes of Stevie May and Callum Hendry, who have one goal between them so far this season, would enjoy the benefits of a physical presence beside them in Conway’s opinion.
He is equally convinced that they are capable of going on a goal-scoring run whatever the circumstances, however.
“It would improve us and give us a bit of a different dimension,” said the former Cardiff City, Blackburn Rovers and Dundee United man.
“That said, I’ve seen it in the past so often with strikers, when they get a goal a few others will follow quickly.
“If we can get somebody in then great but it’s not the be all and end all. As a team we have to take responsibility. I’m confident the goals will come either way.
“If you’ve got a focal point or a target man, they (Stevie May and Callum Hendry) would benefit from flick-ons and knock-downs. But that’s down to the manager. As players we’re just focusing on contributing. If we don’t get anybody in we’ve just got to get on with it. That’s the way it works.”
Conway was recruited in the summer more for his assists than his goals but that doesn’t mean the ex-Scotland international absolves himself from blame for the fact that Saints have only found the net on four occasions in nine games.
“I know that I could have given a bit more and added a goal or two,” he said.
“If you play in an attacking position it’s not just about creating. You have to bring some goals as well.
“To be honest, it all boils down to players taking responsibility, myself included. We’ve not been able to score of late and we have to put that right.”
The flip-side of the not scoring coin has been the worrying rise in defensive errors that have cost the McDiarmid Park team – twice in two minutes at Livingston last weekend.
“It’s a team effort at the end of the day but when you’re missing a lot of chances you’re always open to losing a goal at the other end,” said the 35-year-old.
“It would be unfair to blame the defenders. We defend as a team.
“If we can score the first goal it will give us a much better chance. At the moment we’re not doing that.
“That’s the attacking responsibility.”
Tomorrow’s opponents Celtic are the league champions and title favourites and they beat Hibs convincingly in their last Premiership match – making them the last side you would choose to face if you were struggling for goals and points. But the good news is that dominating possession against a packed defence should not be an issue for a change.
“I hope that helps us,” said Conway.
“We’ve controlled most of the games that we’ve played so far and we’ve not got much out of them. That needs to change.
“The game on Sunday will be a different type of test to the one we’ve faced in the last few weeks. That might suit us.
“We’ll be trying to keep a clean-sheet – which is the most important thing – and nick one at the other end.
“It’s something we’ve not been able to do of late but I’m confident that will come.
“I know it’s going to be a really tough test on Sunday but we’re more than capable of getting a result.”
He added: “There’s no denying the fact that the quality Celtic have makes them a tough nut to crack.
“They dominate possession in most games and score a lot of goals but it’s not an impossible task.
“When I was at United we did it a few times.
“We will just be sticking to our game plan. Against the Old Firm you have to keep things a bit tight and hopefully we can score one and then we will go from there.”
Saints’ run of four defeats in five games has seen them drop to second bottom of the table, with only goal difference keeping them above 12th spot.
Comfort can be taken in the small gap (four points) to fifth, though.
“I think it is important to remember at the end of the day that it is still pretty early days,” said Conway.
“It is easy to get carried away with not picking up wins and not scoring many, but it definitely is early days.
“We’ve definitely got time to fix that.”
Conway spent the best part of a decade away from Scottish football. The changes in the game north of the border have been for the better while he has been playing in the English leagues.
“I think the lads are a lot fitter now than when I was here last,” he said.
“I’m not trying to say that everyone was overweight back then, but I think definitely the pace of the football has improved.
“The lads have taken little bits from down south like diet and stuff like that. All the kind of sport science behind it, I think that has improved massively.
“There are some good young players and there are a lot of who have gone down south and done really well.
“I have always said that Scottish football is a lot better than what it gets credit for. I would say on a whole it has probably improved.
“Obviously you have Celtic and Rangers who are always going to be on top and dominant, but the gap is not as big as I think it was before.”
“And there is definitely a more level playing field outside the Old Firm. The rest of the teams on their day can beat each other. You see that on a weekly basis with the results.”
Steven MacLean would only come out of retirement if there was a St Johnstone ‘injury crisis’
