TOMMY WRIGHT, the St Johnstone manager, refused to discuss the ongoing speculation about Michael O’Halloran’s future and insisted the forward would be starting for his team in Saturday’s League Cup semi-final against Hibernian. Rangers have had two bids for the one-time Celtic youth player turned down but are expected to return with a third offer before the transfer window closes on Monday night. Wright, though, revealed there had been no fresh enquiries about O’Halloran and that he was 100% confident that the 25 year-old would still be a St Johnstone player come the weekend.

The Northern Irishman already knows what line-up he would like to send out in Saturday’s semi-final at Tynecastle, with only injury doubts to three key figures hampering his preparations. O’Halloran, though, features in every one of those potential selections.

“I already know my team but with the injuries I’ve got it’s a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C,” said Wright. “But Michael O’Halloran is in every one of them. At the minute Dave Mackay, Murray Davidson and Chris Millar are out so the team we’re working on doesn’t have them in it.

“If that changes because of them recovering from their injuries then I’ve got Thursday and Friday to change that around. But Mikey will play, he's in all three teams.”

Wright also downplayed the idea that, as the Premiership team playing Championship opposition, St Johnstone would be strongly fancied to make the final against either Celtic or Ross County.

“Hibs are favourites in my mind because of their recent results,” he added. “Although I’ve been happy enough with our performances, apart from the Hamilton one, we have not been picking up wins. Hibs are winning games, they are on a good run and are in a better vein of form than we are.

“We have a lot of respect for Hibs, we know they have good players are a good manager. We respect everyone we play against, that has never been an issue here. Hibs are a huge club and they are doing really well at the moment so it’s going to be a tough game.”