Gary Irvine has backed former Dundee team-mate Sean Higgins to shine in the SPL, despite the fact he was left watching from the stand as St Johnstone opened their SPL campaign at Aberdeen last weekend.
Higgins was Perth boss Derek McInnes’ first summer signing, and for much of the close season it was just him and Carl Finnigan from Falkirk who had been brought to McDiarmid Park.
However, Cillian Sheridan and Marcus Haber agreed deals the day before the trip to Pittodrie and earlier this week Francisco Sandaza became new forward number five.
The competition up front at Saints may be fierce, and Higgins wasn’t on the bench for the season curtain-raiser, but Irvine believes he has what it takes to be a success in the top flight.
He said, “I texted Sean after the match and obviously he was disappointed to not be involved in the opening game of the season. The boys here checked the results and how former team-mates had done on Saturday, and it was a surprise to see he wasn’t even stripped, but he’s worked hard to get to the SPL and his time will come soon I’m sure.”
He continued, “I heard that Derek McInnes went one up top, so that was probably a factor. Higgy’s time will come. He’s just come back from an operation in the summer and he’s building up his fitness again. I’m sure he’ll get slotted back in soon and will play his part there.
“He’s been in the game long enough to know that managers chop and change things. He will be disappointed to miss out on the first game of the season because it’s a new club and he wants to impress.”VersatilityIrvine, himself an ex-Saint, feels the versatility of Higgins will work to his advantage. The full-back pointed out, “He can play up top by himself and link up well, or play up in a two. Everybody here wants him to do well. Sean was a big part of the dressing room at Dens and the goals he scored were really important for us last season.
“St Johnstone’s a great club, and the manager and Tony Docherty are great coaches to work with, so he’s at the right place.”
Meanwhile, Irvine revealed that watching last season’s first division champions Dunfermline take their SPL bow on Monday night has strengthened his own desire to be in their shoes this time next year.
“I saw their game against St Mirren the other night and seeing the newly-promoted team start off in the SPL gets you motivated to be in their position in 12 months’ time. That’s where we want to be next season that’s why we’ve put in all the hard work in pre-season.
“We’ve got another cup game on Saturday against Dumbarton, which we’re taking seriously because we want to win everything we play in, but everything’s gearing up for the start of the league. It can’t come quick enough.
“From a personal point of view my fitness feels good and I’ve got a lot of minutes under my belt now. We’ve played our first competitive match against Arbroath and now we’re looking to kick on and be up to full pace by the time the league comes round next week.”