St Johnstone boss, Simo Valakari, hopes that Adama Sidibeh will have learned a valuable lesson from a year ago.
The Gambia international was the subject of relentless, and mostly baseless, transfer speculation after his goals helped keep Saints in the Premiership under Craig Levein.
Current head coach, Valakari, believes that a pre-season of off-field distractions haunted him for the rest of the campaign, with the 27-year-old finding life much tougher in Scotland’s top-flight.
And 12 months later, it needs to be a different story, as the head coach demands day to day high standards on the training ground
“I think Adama will have learned from all the things that happened this time last year,” said Valakari.
“He came into pre-season with a lot of distractions after ending the previous year well and playing for his country for the first time.
“There was all the talk of him going to different clubs which didn’t materialise.
“That meant he didn’t have a very good pre-season.
“I think it affected him for the whole season.
“He needed to learn.
“As a footballer, you must focus on what you do every day.
“All the good things happen from that.
“If you get distracted and think too far ahead, football will leave you behind.
“Control what you can control.
“It’s a short career and you want to make the most of it but the best thing you can do for yourself, and your family, is concentrate on your own performance on the training field.
“That will ensure good things happen for you.”
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