Guy Melamed is confident he can be the man to get St Johnstone on the goal trail.
The 27-year-old’s one-year deal with the Perth club has been confirmed.
A two-week period of quarantine kicked in for the Israeli forward at the weekend, making the home clash with Dundee United on October 24 the earliest he can make his Saints debut.
Melamed, who has a career total of 50 goals in 125 starts, hopes that he will be the last piece in manager Callum Davidson’s jigsaw as Saints strive to push up the Premiership table.
“I am very excited,” he said. “When I heard there was an offer from Scotland I totally wanted it and I’m excited for this.
“I hope I can help the team score goals and move up the table.
“I can move the ball very well. I will bring quality. I score goals. I can play the classic number nine position.
“I think I can bring some technique and movement. I hope I will bring goals – that is the most important thing.”
Financial problems at his previous club presented an opportunity in Scotland that Melamed is determined to seize.
“I had one year left with my team, Maccabi Netanya, and both sides decided to finish it,” he explained.
“I looked for something else in Europe and talked with my agent. He told me that he would check some options and he found St Johnstone. When I heard about this I was very happy.
“Callum Davidson talked to me on FaceTime before I came here. I read about him on the internet and he had a very impressive career. He knows football very well and I think he is the right person to coach me.
“He thinks the team is very good and another striker is what he needs. I’m happy he chose me.”
Melamed has already started his homework on his new team and their competition.
“I think it is a very good league,” he said.
“I have a good friend (a former team-mate at Be’er Sheva) that plays at Celtic, Hatem Elhamed.
“I have heard about Scottish fans, and especially St Johnstone, who are very committed and very supportive. I hope that I can see them soon.”
Davidson said: “I’m delighted to get him on board. As soon as I spoke to him he came across as very enthusiastic and passionate – qualities I look for in a player.
“He’s very excited and looking forward to the challenge. His enthusiasm as a person made me make the decision to try and get him.
“Guy’s a little bit unknown over here and has something to prove. From watching videos of him play, I thought his movement in the box was very good. We had been looking to either go for a target man or someone to score goals, and I believe we have gone for the latter option.
“It’s difficult with the current situation but he will be in quarantine due to the rules. But once we have him in we will get him up to speed in training and we will get him involved with the boys. He’s lively and I hope he settles in well.”
Meanwhile, two Saints players left the club on deadline day.
Tanto Olaofe returned to Millwall after his season-long loan was cut short, while fellow striker John Robertson has been farmed out for three months to League One side Forfar.
Wallace Duffy, meanwhile, whose release was confirmed on Sunday, has signed a two-year deal with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Another Sunday sickener for St Johnstone who lose late to Celtic
