Saints goalie Graeme Smith is hoping to hold on to the first-team shirt he regained at the weekend.
The former Rangers man earned a recall in the Highlands as Saints drew 1-1 with Inverness after it was decided to rest Finnish internationalist stopper Peter Enckelman for the next few weeks in a bid to clear up a troublesome thigh injury.
Smith is determined to grasp the opportunity with both of his big mitts to cement his place in the side again.
“The manager told me on Friday I would be playing,” he said. “It just shows you how strange football can be. I had actually missed training in the last couple of weeks because of a hip injury.
“The international break helped me but it did not allow Peter to get over his problem. It shows you have to be prepared and ready to do your bit.
“I always knew another keeper would be coming in when Alan Main and Euan McLean left in the summer. You never take for granted you are number one. But it’s credit to the manager and the club that we have managed to bring in someone with the CV and record of Peter.
“He is a great guy and a really good keeper. We are friends but obviously there is rivalry because we both want to start for St Johnstone. I had to keep my standards high in training and try to impress during the week.Disappointment”It was disappointing that Peter started the season ahead of me but I had to keep chipping away. I have never spoken to the gaffer about the situation. I wouldn’t kick his door down or throw the toys out of the pram.”
Smith admitted he was disappointed that he could not keep a clean sheet against Caley but he felt Saints more than deserved to leave the Highlands with all three points.
However, the keeper ensured his side did at least salvage a draw after pulling off a miraculous save to deny Adam Rooney.
“I just tried to set myself properly and try to get something on his header,” added Smith. “With Peter injured, hopefully there will be more opportunities for me in the coming weeks. I really want to take my chance. I have to give the manager a selection headache with the standard of my performances.”
That gaffer, Derek McInnes, revealed why he had taken the decision to rest Enckelman.
“Peter is still feeling his thigh,” he said. “We have had him scanned and he has a tear in a slightly different area than his previous injury.
“His kicking has been restricted for the last three or four weeks. The injury does not seem to be healing at all and there comes a point where you cannot have a goalkeeper who is unable to kick.
“So, we are looking to rest him properly over the next couple of games. He sat on the bench on Saturday but was only going to come on in an emergency. Graeme came in and did very well for us.”
While Enckelman will sit out the next few games, there was better news on two other injured players.
McInnes is keeping his fingers crossed that Murray Davidson and Peter MacDonald will have recovered from their respective groin and calf injuries to come into contention for Saturday’s game against Hamilton.
The St Johnstone boss also declared himself pleased with the progress of Martin Hardie, who went out on loan last week to Partick Thistle in a bid to regain match fitness after his long lay-off with a knee injury.
“We are hoping to have Murray training by the middle of the week,” added McInnes. “He came in on Friday but was unable to function properly and was in a bit of pain so the decision was made to leave him out. Peaso has a calf knock but we think he will be able to train this week. The good thing from his point of view is that he has no knee pain which was always the big test for him coming back.
“Martin played 70 minutes for Partick on Saturday. We had Alec Cleland (Saints under-19 coach) at the game and he says Martin had an influence and played a part in their winning goal.
“I have spoken to him and he says he enjoyed the game.”