BRIAN EASTON hopes St Johnstone will try to sign Michael O’Halloran on a permanent deal in January if the winger is not wanted by Rangers. O’Halloran has made a blistering start to his loan spell with four goals from five games, enough to earn him the Ladbrokes Premiership Player of the Month award.

Pedro Caixinha, the Rangers manager, has already said the 26 year-old is “not the type of player we need” and Easton hoped that would pave the way for his team-mate to make his McDiarmid Park return a permanent one.

“‘I’ve kept in touch with Michael since he was at Rangers,” said Easton at the Topps Match Attax launch. “I could tell he was really buzzing to get back here. He is back in an environment where he is happy and I agreed with the gaffer when he said there’s a spring in Mikey’s step again. He’s been brilliant so far, scoring four goals in five games. It would be good if we could keep him beyond January. I don’t know if that will be possible. But Mikey is happy here and if it’s true the Rangers manager does not want him then definitely we would love to keep him permanently. But if he keeps going the way he is going there will be plenty of clubs chasing him.”

Easton was pleased that O’Halloran was given the chance to get his side of the story over.

“It was a chance for Rangers fans, or those who follow Scottish football, to read a different perspective on Mikey’s story. But the main thing is he has answered any critics with the start he has made to the season.”