On-form Dundee striker David Clarkson may be flourishing at Dens Park after being overlooked by St Johnstone, but Perth boss Tommy Wright says he has no regrets over not signing the player.
The former Motherwell man has netted five goals in five league games already this season and is perhaps showing Saints what they have been missing after they decided against giving the 29-year-old a contract at McDiarmid Park.
Wright ran the rule over Clarkson in the summer after he was freed by Bristol Rovers but, with no deal forthcoming, the Scottish international committed his future to Dundee.
“A manager can’t have sleepless nights about ‘what ifs’ because if you did you wouldn’t sleep full stop,” the Saints boss said.
“It’s a decision I had to make at the time and at that time it was the right decision. He’s done extremely well and there were various reasons why we couldn’t take him.
“At the time, we looked at it and we needed someone, because of our injuries, that was able to play almost right away.
“We also felt that with our squad in terms of the age of our squad that we maybe needed a younger player.
“But I’ve no regrets and we probably helped the lad by getting him into training. He’s a lovely lad and he’s doing well at Dundee. I just hope he doesn’t continue his run against us this weekend!”
Saints head to Dens Park on Saturday six points adrift of their hosts in the Premiership table and Wright has not been surprised to see Paul Hartley’s men reach the heights they have done thus far.
“There’s still a wee bit of ‘Oh, the newly-promoted teams shouldn’t be up there’, particularly with Hamilton, and I don’t understand that,” he said.
“Hamilton are a good side, they have come up with a lot of confidence and they haven’t lost many games even at the tail end of last season as well. They know each other, they are well organised.
“Dundee are slightly different in that they had a squad and had big changes but Paul’s been able to come in and bring good quality experienced players in, as well as young players.
“So both squads have done extremely well and it doesn’t surprise me that they’ve both done so well.”
After losing the first two Tayside derbies, the Saints boss is determined to give the Perth faithful something to shout about.
“Dundee had some really good results and they are sitting in a good position,” he continued. “They’ve got attack-minded players and Paul Hartley will be fairly satisfied with his start.
“But we feel going into the game we’re going in with the right frame of mind. We’ve got four points out of our last six and Friday’s win will give us a boost.
“We know we’ve got to be better than what we were the last time we played them and that’s a fact.
“I think in any derby game the emphasis will be on making sure we are disciplined and making sure we are organising.
“We need to get into a position where we can cause them more problems than what we did in the first game at McDiarmid Park.”
David Wotherspoon is still struggling from the effects of his tonsillitis and remains a doubt, although Simon Lappin and James McFadden will be available.
There is also a continuing doubt over Murray Davidson, who is recovering from concussion after suffering an eye injury in the League Cup defeat to Rangers.
Wright confirmed doctors will assess the midfielder ahead of the game.