Brian Easton’s “total write off” of a season has had the tin lid put on it with the news that the St Johnstone defender needs another operation.
The last of the 30-year-old’s 15 appearances in this campaign came as a substitute against Dundee at the end of December.
A comeback before the 2017/18 season is over has now been ruled out, with being ready for pre-season the aim for the left-back.
“Brian had to go and see a specialist again,” reported manager Tommy Wright.
“Unfortunately he needs another operation (in the groin area) next week which is hugely disappointing and frustrating for him. It’s been a total write off this season.
“I think Lee Wallace has a similar type of injury. The injury is really difficult to fix and even when you have the operation there can be problems.
“While the first operation was a success, the surgeon feels he needs to go back in. It’s a smaller operation, but still an operation.
“The plan will be that in three or four weeks he should be in full training again. It will be a programme that he will have to work hard on to be ready for pre-season.”
Easton apart, Wright is starting to see players return to fitness.
“This week has been pretty good in terms of injuries,” he said. “Stefan Scougall came back and got on the pitch for 15 minutes at Dundee.
“He played 45 minutes for the under-20s on Monday as did Callum Hendry. The plan was always to play David McMillan for 30 minutes.
“Out of the three, Stefan will probably be the only one involved on Saturday. But the other two, depending how they come through Thursday (another under-20s match), should be involved for the last three games.
“Chris Kane and Blair Alston are still making progress but we know they won’t be back this season. Murray Davidson is still suspended.”
Tomorrow’s opponents, Partick Thistle, stopped a dreadful run of results against Hamilton Accies last weekend and could climb out of the bottom two if they win at McDiarmid Park.
“It was a great result for Partick,” said Wright. “In my time in Scotland I have had a lot of respect for Alan (Archibald) and what he has done, especially last year.
“It’s been a difficult season for them in terms of injuries and it certainly has affected them.
“They probably need to stay unbeaten, winning three games, to get away from 11th and bottom place.
“Their league position is a surprise but it reflects the league and how tight it is. It also reflects how brilliantly they did last year.
“Alan probably had more continuity in selection last season which has been hampered. Perhaps new players haven’t settled in as quickly as he would have liked.
“But they are still a good side and Alan is still a good manager – a very good manager.”
Wright added: “We’re trying to win the game for different reasons. We want to bounce back from last week and finish seventh.
“It would take a freakish run of results for us to be dragged into 11th place but we need to make sure we finish strongly.
“That would bring a feel-good factor to take into next season.”
Meanwhile, Wright revealed that departing keeper Alan Mannus will get one more chance to pull on a Saints shirt, but not until the last day of the season
“Zander will play the next three games and I’m going to give Alan the last one,” he explained.
“When Alan told me he was leaving I was up-front and said what we were going to do. He is happy with the situation.”
