“Proper defender” Liam Gordon took his St Johnstone first team chance against Hearts at the weekend.
And assistant manager Callum Davidson has revealed there is still hope that he may recover from injury to keep his place in the Perth backline for tonight’s clash with Ross County.
The young centre-back filled in for suspended captain Steven Anderson at Murrayfield.
Davidson was impressed with his performance in the narrow defeat and Gordon is set to keep his place if he can prove his fitness.
“Liam landed awkwardly on his shoulder and we will have to assess him,” he said. “He also took a head knock but that isn’t the problem.
“I thought he was superb against Hearts, handling Goncalves and Lafferty really well. Liam is a proper defender but he is good on the ball as well.
“If you play well you stay in the team so he will be desperate to be fit.
“Unfortunately injuries are part and parcel of the game.”
Aaron Comrie also has a strong case for retention in the starting XI, despite the fact Richard Foster is another player available again after serving his ban.
Davidson added: “A lot was made about Hearts having a young back four but Aaron Comrie also did well for us at Murrayfield.
“Murray Davidson will be fit and we have Richard Foster and Seven Anderson back from suspension.
“Chris Millar has come back in and done really well. With the games coming close together we will have to assess him. We have scope for making changes if we need to freshen it up.”
Saints are looking to end a three-game losing run at McDiarmid Park tonight but the teams they have lost to puts that statistic in context.
Davidson said: “We have had three really hard games against Aberdeen and Hearts away and Rangers at home. But we need to ask more questions of defenders.
“This is another tough game but you have to target it as one to win.
“We know Ross County are an attacking team. They play high energy football. We have to stop the crosses coming in and win first and second balls.”