Europa League: Eskisehirspor v St Johnstone: Lomas must rethink his vanguard ahead of first European crusade

Wednesday 18 July 2012

"We have to soldier on." Admittedly not the words any manager would hope to be uttering ahead of a sojourn into Turkey but that was about all Steve Lomas was left with as he scored two notable names off the list to face Eskisehirspor.

Steve Lomas, the St Johnstone manager, has lost two key players ahead of tonight's return to action. Picture: PA

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Herald Staff

The St Johnstone manager will send his side out for the first leg of a Europa League second round qualifying tie tonight bereft of leadership in the shape of captain Dave Mackay and the energy he hoped new striker Gregory Tade would bring.

The full-back is nursing an injury problem which will likely preclude his making it on to the plane, while Tade has been unable to overcome a hamstring injury. The burly Frenchman was expected to be tasked with discomfiting the Turks' defence as best he could, a mission which will now have to be accepted by one of Nigel Hasselbaink, Sean Higgins or Stevie May."It's a big blow for us, there's no two ways about it," said Lomas. "[Tade] had been looking the part in training before this setback. I know how much the lad had been looking forward to making his debut out in Turkey. It is a disappointment for him and for us but we have to soldier on."It had already appeared an onerous task for St Johnstone but it is not one which has been perturbing Liam Craig. The midfielder made his first appearance for the Perth club in the first division and has been a notable figure as his side have blossomed into European competitors.It had initially been a gamble – he chose to drop down a division having first joined on loan from Falkirk – but it is one which he can now look back on with satisfaction. "When I first signed here European football seemed a long way away," said Craig."My debut was against Hamilton away in the first division and we got beaten 1-0. Now here I am looking to represent St Johnstone in Europe. If you had said back then that we were going to be even close to challenging for a European spot – never mind qualifying – no one would have believed it."It is notable that their rise has been achieved without the club being put in danger financially. It is something which Lomas felt was worth endorsing. "Our club stands out as a side that has been run fantastically well," he added. "We can be proud of being something of a role model."

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Europa League: Eskisehirspor v St Johnstone: Lomas must rethink his vanguard ahead of first European crusade

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