St Johnstone’s double defensive transfer raid to Ireland was excellent business, according to Graham Gartland.
The former Saints centre-back isn’t surprised Dan Cleary has turned out to be one of the rocks his old club’s second half of the season revival has been built upon.
And he shares Callum Davidson’s confidence that John Mahon will prove to be a big long-term McDiarmid Park asset as well.
Gartland believes timing and extra experience helped Liverpool academy product, Cleary make an instant impact in the Saints first team on his arrival from Dundalk.
Ex-Sligo Rovers defender, Mahon is still waiting for his first Premiership start but he too will go on to prove his worth.
“I expected Dan to do well,” said Gartland.
“I know Shamrock Rovers wanted to sign him and St Johnstone did a good job in getting him.
“Jason Kerr was obviously a big loss for the team. He would have been a very hard man to replace.
“Maybe Dan will have an eye on another crack at England but football is all about performing where you are.
“You can’t take your focus off that, which I’m sure he won’t.
“Every game in the Scottish Premiership is tough – I know that. It catches you out if you’re not at your best.
“You get set different types of task, football-wise and mentally.”
Heart on his sleeve centre-back
On Mahon and what Saints fans can expect from him when he gets his top team chance, Gartland observed: “I watched him in a game last year for Sligo against Shamrock Rovers and he did really well that day.
“He’s a powerful centre-back who likes to throw himself in the way of balls and will be really aggressive when the ball is in the air or in and around him.
“Anything that’s in a 10-yard radius he wants to get to.
“He’s a heart on his sleeve centre-back but I wouldn’t want to say ‘old-fashioned’ because he can play a bit.
“That type of warrior defender, who will play through an injury for you, will do well in Scotland.
“Other than the Old Firm games, most of the matches are about being good in both boxes and John is.
“There’s a lot more improvement in John.”
Gartland, who has stepped back from full-time football following the end of his time as assistant manager to Neil McCann at Dundee, added: “I know he was full-time with Sligo but he’ll be learning a lot in Scotland, even just in training.
“I’m sure he’ll come good in the long-term. Those are two very good signings.
“John’s sitting on all that power and had real potential to develop.
“There will be times when he’s unbelievable and there will be times when he’ll maybe come across as a bit rash. That’s how he’ll develop as he gets older.
“You have to play to learn.
“It’s been a short season from the end of January for him. He’ll come back in the summer and be ready to make next season a big one.”
