St Johnstone midfielder Simon Lappin should be back in action in three weeks.
A specialist has confirmed that the knee he injured in last month’s Tayside derby at Tannadice doesn’t need operated on, and manager Tommy Wright is relieved he will have the former Norwich City man available again this season.
“We are looking at another three weeks out,” Wright reported. “He has had an injection on his knee and there has been a positive response.
“There is a bit of bone bruising and ligament damage. Fortunately it doesn’t seem as if he needs an operation. I don’t know if it went through his mind but I did fear it might be a possibility and that would have ended his season.
“It is a plus he will be back playing next month.”
Meanwhile, Wright admitted that he is tempted to field the same team against Partick Thistle which won against Celtic last time out.
He said: “It is in my mind to say ‘same again’ after the win at Celtic Park. The important thing is that we have to make sure we are right for Partick. Performances have been good recently and there is no point winning away to Celtic and then losing at Firhill.
“We have to go there and try to get all three points.
“We have to build on the massive boost we got against Celtic in the run of games coming up before the split. Every win is going to be vital.
“Getting ahead of Hamilton is the target right now. If we do that we know we are in the top six.
“I think it will still be tight but we are in a very good position.
“Last year we did it with two or three games to go. It is much tighter this year. It has been tougher. You could say there are four teams going for two places.”
Wright added: “Thistle had a great win against Dundee United a few weeks ago and probably expected to kick on. They are a good side.
“We are expecting a tough game. The league is exciting with plenty up for grabs.
“Teams at the bottom have been starting to win so there are no guaranteed points. It is very competitive.
“Hopefully the experience we have had in recent years will help us.”
* Wright took in a match between Ballymena and Dungannon on a recent visit home, but there were no specific players he was targeting.