St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright has admitted that he “lost a bit of trust” in Chris Millar’s ability to stay fit.
But the man of the match against Rangers on Saturday can now expect to stay at McDiarmid Park for the rest of the season.
Wright, who made the 34-year-old available for transfer in the summer on the back of a succession of muscle injuries, said: “Chris will be staying here. I’d imagine that’s what will happen.
“He might not play every game. We will have to monitor him and manage him.
“He has been very unlucky with injuries. It happens when you get to his age because you are more prone to getting niggles.
“It has been very frustrating for him and for us, but we all know he’s a quality player.
“He was back to his best at the weekend – and that was down to him being fully fit.
“It has never been that I don’t rate Chris as a player, if you look at it since I have been here he has always played when he’s fit.
“That tells you what I think of him, but I’d just lost a bit of trust in his fitness.
“I have never been someone to mislead anyone or tell them lies. I was up front with Chris at the end of last season.
“There had come a point where I thought enough was enough for both me and for Chris.
“I thought it might have been better for him to go away somewhere else to play.
“But it was never a case of saying he wouldn’t play for me. The door was always open for him to play.
“He showed on Saturday exactly what he’s capable of and we just have to hope he stays fit now.”
Two of Wright’s strikers got off the mark for the season at Ibrox – Denny Johnstone and Graham Cummins.
The Perth boss, who confirmed that Johnstone’s withdrawal was as a result of cramp, said: “I was very pleased for him, he’s been really good in training over the last few weeks and I just felt it was the right time to put him in.
“It was great for him to get a goal and also for Graham to get on the scoresheet as well.
“They will both get a boost from that and hopefully we can take it into the next few games now.”
Brian Easton could be available for the Hearts game but Aaron Comrie is “probably still another week away.”
