HOLMES HAS PLENTY TO OFFER

New striker Derek Holmes is in no doubt about the need for his new side to get off to a flyer this season as Saints make a bid to end their exile from Scotland’s top league – an exile which is going into its seventh season.

The former Hearts, Ross County, Bournemouth, Carlisle United and Rotherham United hit man says “It’s very important to start the season well but every club in the league will feel the same. It’s vital to get a run going and gain a bit of confidence from that. This club’s got all the attributes – the stadium has been here for years and is clearly fit for better things. I’ve kept tabs on the Scottish game during my time down south and am aware that they have just narrowly missed out on a couple of occasions so I know that the ambition is there and hopefully we can go that bit further and win the league.”

On the subject of how his move to St Johnstone came about Derek revealed that Saints gaffer Derek McInnes hadn’t let the grass grow under his feet after last season had ended. Holmes says “It was not long after the season had finished that Derek gave me a phone call knowing that I was looking to get back home and asked if I was interested in coming to Perth and I’m just glad we could sort things out.”

The 6’2” striker has no problems with being see as a ‘target man’ but with Derek McInnes having already stressed that the acquisition of Holmes certainly does not mean a turn towards “route one” football he is keen to point out that he has plenty of different attributes to his game.

“People say I’m a target man because I’m tall and strong but I think I’ve proved over the years, that I have a decent touch and that I am a good finisher and hopefully those attributes will add to what is already here at McDiarmid Park.”