ON-LOAN LUKE OUT OF ACTION
Defensive blow for Saints ahead of Livi tie
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St Johnstone have been dealt a major injury blow with the news Luke Robinson won’t play again this season.
The on-loan Wigan Athletic man is back with his parent club after suffering a torn knee cartilage. Robinson, 22, missed Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen as Saints dropped to 11th place.
Manager Craig Levein is now hoping Tony Gallacher recovers from the calf issue that forced him out of action against Hibs then the Pittodrie trip. Saints are shorn of leftsided defensive options ahead of this weekend’s crucial tie at Livingston.
Levein reported: “Luke is struggling. He’s had a little bit of a cartilage problem for most of the season. Every now and then a bit would get caught in the joint and it would flare up. We’d have to watch it for a wee while.
“But now he’s got a proper tear. It was a really innocuous change in direction on the training ground last week.
“He’s away back to Wigan to get scanned. We won’t see him before the end of the season.
“So that’s a bit of a blow. Tony had a little niggle with his calf before the Hibs game.
“That caused him a few problems, we hoped to get him back for Aberdeen.
“Fingers crossed with
Tony for Livingston this weekend. He’s improving. I’m hopeful.”
Robinson played 33 times for Saints since signing for Steven Maclean last August.
He was recalled briefly by Shaun Maloney in January and featured twice for the Latics before returning to Perth.
Graham Carey filled in on the left flank as Saints lost to a Bojan Miovski penalty in Aberdeen. The result combined with Ross County beating Hibernian - left Saints in the relegation play-off spot two points adrift of the Dingwall men.
The survival scrap moves on to relegated Livi before Saints host County next midweek and finish up away to Motherwell a week on Sunday.
Levein added: “Injuries are part of the game. I feel for Luke and for Tony missing those games.
“But I need to focus on who’s available for us and can do the job for us now.”
Dimitar Mitov has been doing a grand job for Saints all season and that’s why the goalkeeper swept the board at Sunday’s club awards ceremony.
The Bulgarian, left, scooped 11 prizes, including the supporters’ vote and the Players’ Player Of The Year.
“Dimi has been terrific in his performances and the awards are well deserved,” said Levein
“He’s got better week by week. He’s also been vocal, he’s got a strong voice in the dressing room.”