St Johnstone received a major boost after Stevie May put pen to paper on a new 12-month deal.
The 20-year-old has spent the last two seasons out on loan at Alloa and then Hamilton, with boss Steve Lomas keen to give him the chance of playing regularly to boost his development rather than have him kicking his heels on the bench with Saints.
It has certainly worked, with the striker banging in an aggregate total of 45 goals for both sides.
His exploits with Accies last term led to him being named the SFL young player of the year and now a bigger and better May is hoping it will be SPL defences he is terrorising next season.
He said: “I’ve definitely developed and improved over the last couple of seasons out on loan at Alloa and then Hamilton, playing every week.
“I have also filled out as well. I’m way stronger than I was before.
“Ultimately, I’m more confident than I was before. I believe I can score goals and I’m looking forward to proving I can do it in the SPL.
“I first played for Saints in the Premier League when I was 17 and scored a couple against Hamilton funnily enough. But I am much better prepared for it now.”
May, who was attracting interest from other SPL sides, is aware that despite his goal-scoring exploits for Alloa and Hamilton, he will have to continue to work hard to persuade his manager that he can lead the St Johnstone line next season.
He said: “I just want to play as many games as I can and score as many goals as I can. There’s not a better feeling in the world than scoring goals.
“Paul Hartley at Alloa and Alex Neil and Billy Reid at Hamilton have all played a part in improving me as a player and playing me regularly. I also owe a lot to coaches at Alloa and Accies for bringing along my development.
“I got 19 at Alloa and last season I ended up with 26 goals for Hamilton. It was great because I was quite a bit behind the front runners at one point.
“I knew I could score goals but to break the record for the division was massive for me. Throughout my loans spells I just wanted to make myself a player who could score goals in the SPL for St Johnstone.
“This is shaping up as an important year for me. I have been here for years, I like the club and being around the club. It is where I wanted to be and the season can’t start soon enough for me.