St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright admitted he took a calculated risk playing Steven MacLean against Motherwell at McDiarmid Park.
However, the gamble paid off in spades with the striker, who had been out since last October with a serious knee injury, netting two of Saints’ goals in a 3-0 victory to secure a much-needed three points following the disappointing loss at the weekend to Inverness.
Wright said: “He has been badgering me for a few days to get him back in. It wasn’t a risk medically as his knee is fine.
“But he hadn’t played and hadn’t even had an Under-20 game as most of them are played on plastic. We didn’t want his first game back to be on an artificial surface.
“You can see what he brings to us. He is a bubbly lad, he gets about the pitch and he makes things happen.
“He is a leader on the pitch and I thought it was a risk worth taking. He gave us that wee bit of a spark and a bit of a lift after Saturday.
“You have to try to look after the player as well but maybe our hand was forced a bit as we were a wee bit flat on Saturday.
“Playing him gives everyone a lift. It was more like us as that is the sort of standard we have set at home.
“Motherwell are one of the best teams in the country and we dominated. If we maintain that form we will secure enough points to get into the top six.”