St Johnstone

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St Johnstone head coach Simo Valakari has no worries about his side's ability to adapt to life without talisman Josh McPake as they prepare to mark their return to the Premiership at home to Kilmarnock on Sunday.

The winger, 24, scored 19 goals last term and was named PFA Scotland Championship player of the year as he helped the Saints win the second-tier title before earning a move to Hearts.

Despite suffering a group-stage exit in the Premier Sports Cup, Valakari is confident his team will evolve effectively without McPake.

"Of course we are a different team without Josh McPake and how he played last season, that was fantastic," said Valakari. "What I loved the most was the journey he did, coming from basically nothing to be a top player and then moving on, and now it's an opportunity for other players.

"We are not trying to replicate what we did with him because we can't, we don't have Josh McPake, we have different players with different qualities and what I've seen during the pre-season, I'm very confident we can play, we can do our things and be successful."

Valakari is relishing Saints' first game back in the top flight after a year in the Championship.

"It's an exciting moment," said the Finn. "It's a big buzz but at the same time you feel a little bit butterflies, you feel a little bit nervous, but it's so great to get these games going now."

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St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari has a full-strength squad to select from.

New Kilmarnock defender Johnly Yfeko could make his debut but Robbie Deas is suspended after picking up too many yellow cards last season.

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Captain Jason Holt has urged newly-promoted St Johnstone to show what they are capable of and "flourish" on their return to the Scottish Premiership.

Each of the previous three Championship winners – Dundee, Dundee United and Falkirk – went on to finish in the top six in their first season back in the Premiership.

Holt will lead Saints out for their league opener at home to Kilmarnock on Sunday.

"Obviously the teams that have come up in previous years have done fantastically well," said the midfielder.

"You look at Falkirk last year, they have done amazing, and obviously that'd be great.

"But first and foremost, let's be competitive in the league and see where we end up.

"I just want myself and the group of players to come up and showcase what we showed last year in the Championship.

"We know it's a step up in quality, step up in opposition, so the challenge for the group is, can you go and do it again? Can you go and replicate the standards that we set last year?

"I obviously want all the boys to flourish in this league and show what they're capable of."

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• Kilmarnock have only won their opening game in two of their last 15 top-flight seasons (losing eight of them), beating St Johnstone 2-0 in 2018-19 and Rangers 1-0 in 2023-24.

• St Johnstone are winless on the opening day in each of their last seven Scottish Premiership seasons (losing five) since beating Kilmarnock 2-1 in 2017-18.

• Since and including 2015-16, just one of 14 newly promoted sides has lost on the opening day (winning five of them), with Livingston going down 3-1 away to Celtic in 2018-19. The last promoted side to lose at home were Hamilton Academical in 2014-15 (2-0 v Inverness Caledonian Thistle).

• Kilmarnock have drawn each of the last three occasions they have faced a newly promoted side on the opening day: 0-0 v Dundee in 2012-13, 1-1 v Dundee in 2014-15 and 2-2 v Livingston in 2025-26.

• St Johnstone have lost four of their last six Premiership games against Kilmarnock (winning the other two), including both of their last two. Saints last lost three in a row to Killie in the competition in August 2018 – the third of which was on the opening day.

Sam Miller
Fan writer

Where will you finish in the league and why?

I don't take too much interest in the League Cup group stages and will judge the team after the first round of games. Saying that though, there is no reason why we can't make top half. A lot of teams have weakened over the summer and consistency will be key, I'll go with sixth.

Who is the best signing or has he not signed yet and who should it be?

Goalkeeper Toby Steward, who we had on loan last season, had more clean sheets than anyone in the country and I was buzzing that he's continuing to gain experience with us again this season.

What do you want from your manager this season?

Although we won the league fairly comfortably in the end, a lack of a plan B cost us a few times in the Championship. If things aren't going well I would love to see him not be scared to mix it up with either tactical or personnel changes earlier.

Who will be the breakout star in your squad?

I really, really hope it's striker Josh Fowler. He's struggled for goals since signing in January but had flourished for a Queen's Park team that liked to hit on the counter.

I'm presuming we will be playing more of that style instead of dominating possession so if he makes the right runs and gets proper service, the goals should come.

What is your one major concern?

Experience. A fair amount of this squad is untested at this level. This may not be a bad thing as they can go into games with no fear but individual errors will be punished more severely than the last campaign. Time will tell.

Sam Miller can be found at Dogger Saints, external

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Does the League Cup group stage come too early in the season for teams like St Johnstone?

Simo Valakari's side were one of two Premiership sides, Falkirk were the other, that failed to progress to the last 16 of the League Cup.

St Johnstone finished third in Group F with seven points after their 1-1 draw with East Fife, which Dick Campbell's side snagged a bonus point in after winning the shootout.

Former Dundee and Ross County boss, who was St Johnstone assistant manager between 2007-2011, insists there is "no need to hit the panic button".

"I was at the game and I've got to say it's a game they should never have lost," Docherty told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"They absolutely controlled and dominated the game, but typical Dick Campbell teams they they hung in and they defended extremely well,

"The crowd weren't very pleased with the the performance, I would say, both at half-time and at full-time and and you can see that eats on to the players a little bit.

"It is a an upset there's no doubt about it but some of these teams are not ready at the moment. A lot of teams like St Johnstone, Falkirk, Dundee are very dependent on that loan market and these players don't come in until the end of the window because that's when their their parent clubs decide it's time for them to move on.

"So that's the argument that maybe the League Cup stages come a wee bit too early.

"It's wise words from Simo. There's no there's no need to hit the panic button at the moment but they'll certainly be disappointed."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari says there is "no panic" after his team were knocked out of the Premier Sports Cup after losing on penalty kicks to League One side East Fife.

Saints knew they required a victory with a few goals to spare to maintain their hopes of progression to the knockout stages of the competition.

However, they had to wait until the first minute of stoppage time before Sam Stanton delivered what they thought would be the winner when he scored from close range.

But a terrible mix up in the home defence allowed East Fife substitute Jack Healy to power home an equaliser from six yards.

St Johnstone finish on seven points from their four outings, behind the visitors and Group F winners Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

It was East Fife substitute Jaiden Fairley who scored the winning penalty in the bonus shootout, but they miss out on a runners-up place via goal difference.

Valakari now turns his attention to the opening Premiership game of the season next week at home to Kilmarnock.

"We have played a couple of Premiership teams and we know if we are not sharper, faster, more alert, these situations will punish you," he said. "We all know that. "That's why there is no point to panic, there is no point to make any drama.

"The only disappointment is that we did not advance from the group because we wanted to go as far as possible in this competition. This year, it ended here, so that's the cup competition. We learned from this, but with the results, we can't do anything."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Johnstone keeper Toby Steward says he is delighted to be back playing for the Perth club after returning for a season-long loan from EFL Championship side Portsmouth.

The 21-year-old returns to McDiarmid Park having played a pivotal part in the Saints' Championship success last season.

The goalkeeper made 36 league appearances and kept 20 clean sheets as the Saints returned to the Scottish top flight at the first time of asking.

And while Steward was aware the expectation was to return to the top flight last term, he knows this season will come with different expectations.

"Obviously for me it's a good step up in terms of the league and just to be back around this place," he said.

"I loved it last season, we had a great season and I'm just happy to be around the same people that I had such a good time with.

"It really was a special night [winning the Scottish Championship title] just to top it all off, seeing the fans out there, lifting the trophy and everybody there having a great time, it just made everything worth it.

"Last year there was an expectation that we would get promoted and this season a whole new league, better opponents, better opposition, it is a different sort of pressure because now it's about what is the success for us this year. It's first of all staying up and then further from that how high can we go.

"So, it's a different sort of pressure and for me I'm looking forward to it, I'm obviously playing against big teams and hopefully we can do well.

"I think as footballers that's what we look forward to and that's what I've wanted to do is play against big opposition in front of big crowds on the biggest stages as possible, so yeah I'm looking forward to it."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari believes VAR can benefit Scottish football if it is used correctly after meeting with the head of the system in Scotland ahead of the new Premiership season.

Martin Atkinson has been visiting all Premiership clubs before the campaign begins next week to outline law changes and discuss how VAR will operate during the 2026-27 season.

Valakari welcomed the discussions, saying they focused on improving communication between players and officials while making the game more free-flowing.

"I followed the Premiership very carefully last season," the Saints boss said.

"Playing in the Championship, it was fresh air because there was no VAR. You could celebrate your goal straight away when the referee pointed to the centre circle.

"But at the same time, I do believe VAR can be a good thing because, if it's used right, it can be good.

"It was a very good meeting. I really appreciate the time the referees have taken to come and speak to us.

"We spoke about the new rules and the cooperation between players and referees. We are all there for the sake of a good game, to make it more entertaining, more fluid and avoid wasting time. It is about respect on both sides."

Valakari acknowledged the challenges officials face despite the technology available.

"Everyone wants VAR to work as well as possible," he added.

"The referees told us that having VAR takes some of the excuses away because, from the bottom of their hearts, they want to make the right decisions.

"But football is so complicated. No two situations are ever the same. Even with the highest technology, there is still the subjectivity of the human mind and room for human error.

"I believe it will get better. Maybe sometimes we just need to be more patient, let it work and find the right way to use it."

There will be no VAR for Saturday's Premier Sports Cup tie against East Fife, where St Johnstone must win to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.

Defeat by Inverness Caledonian Thistle in midweek left Saints third in the group, one point behind East Fife and two adrift of the Highland side.

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Bozo Mikulic feels "real happiness for everything that is next" at St Johnstone after signing a new contract with the club.

The Croatian centre-back's new deal runs until the summer of 2027 and will keep him at McDiarmid Park until then.

Mikulic joined Saints in October 2024 but has endured an injury-plagued spell during his time in Perth.

However, he is convinced he is primed to help the team on their return to the top flight and is "thankful for this chance".

"What I came through last season with the injury was the worst period of my career," he said. "It felt like the worst scenario for me, or for any player.

"But now my body has been feeling very good. Pre-season went well and I played four games. I was really happy with how that went.

"I'm very thankful for this chance. There is great excitement to be back in the Scottish Premiership.

"We have great characters and boys in our dressing room who are ready to build on the momentum of what happened last season."

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Jamie Gullan is "back", says St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari after the striker netted two penalties in Saturday's Premier Sports Cup Group F win.

Gullan converted from 12 yards either side of Reece McAlear's volley as Saints made it two group wins out of two.

The 27-year-old scored 17 goals last season but only four came after the turn of the year.

"Jamie had a little tough spell carrying some illness then he did not look like himself," Valakari told club media.

"Jamie's back, back. The big Jamie, we saw today."

St Johnstone continue Group F away to Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Tuesday (19:45) and finish at home to East Fife on Saturday (15:00).

And Valakari commented: "There will be some changes for Tuesday."

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Macaulay Tait is "happy to do the dirty work" for St Johnstone after completing a permanent switch from fellow Scottish Premiership side Hearts.

Tait, 20, came through the Hearts academy and has had two loan spells with Livingston in the past two seasons.

He has signed a two-year deal at McDiarmid Park and says he is in the right place to continue his development.

"I'm really excited to get started and to meet all of the boys properly," he said. "How much the club and the gaffer wanted me was a great start to all of this.

"I felt it was the right place to continue my journey. The club has momentum coming into the top-flight, and it seems a really positive place to be. The boys play good football and I'll just be looking to come in and add to that.

"I have been at Hearts for a while and came through the academy, playing 16 times for the first team. That was nice for myself and my family.

"I took the step on loan to Livingston for the past 18 months and I can't thank them enough for progressing my career. Now I'm looking to make a real impact at Saints.

"I'll be hard-working and run for this team as much as I can. Hopefully I can bring quality on the ball and give the attacking players the service to do their stuff. I'm happy to do the dirty work."

Hearts midfielder Macaulay Tait, 20, is set to join fellow Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone. (Courier - subscription required, external)

Thursday's Scottish gossip

Talks have now begun between St Johnstone and Bozo Mikulic, but head coach Simo Valakari says he and the 29-year-old centre-half have agreed that a decision over a new contract should not be rushed as he continues his recovery from six months absence through injury. (The Courier), external

Former St Johnstone striker Makenzie Kirk could be heading out of Portsmouth on loan to Barnsley. (The Courier, external)

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has decided not to sign Liam McCarron after the 25-year-old left-back's trial with the Perth club following his departure from Boston United. (The Courier, external)

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Ruari Paton scored twice and was involved in St Johnstone's two other goals in Saturday's 4-2 friendly win at Cove Rangers.

Josh Fowler set up Paton for Saints' opener but Destiny Oladipo soon levelled for Scottish League 1 Cove.

Paton drew a foul that resulted in a penalty, which Fowler converted, and Fotheringham's one-two with Paton ended with a third Saints goal before half-time.

And Paton netted again in the second period before one of Cove's trialists replied.

Recent recruits Daniel Finlayson and Zach Mitchell started for the Perth side and Logan Chalmers came on in the second half.

Simo Valakari's St Johnstone open their competitive season with a Premier Sports Cup fixture away to Linlithgow on Tuesday (19:45 BST).

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari says it is now decision time over Bozo Mikulic with the 29-year-old defender featuring in all their pre-season matches as a trialist after his contract ran out on his return from long-term injury. (Courier - subscription required, external)

Sunday's Scottish gossip

St Johnstone won't be offering Max Anderson a contract after a short trial period for the former Dundee midfielder, while winger Liam McCarron and defender Bozo Mikulic continue to train with the Perth club. (The Courier - subscription required, external)