ST JOHNSTONE v HEARTS Pawlett determined to make up for lost time after lay-off

PETER PAWLETT is determined to make the most of his remaining time at St Johnstone even though he has no idea how long he will be at the Perth club.

The winger, who moved to McDiarmid Park from Aberdeen on loan in August, has spent nearly three months out with a hamstring injury, returning as a substitute in last weekend's draw with St Mirren.

Pawlett, 21, has yet to be told whether he is wanted back at Pittodrie next month but is out to make an impression with Steve Lomas's side for now, starting in today's game at home to Hearts.

"I got a little run last week from the bench and it was good to be back," Pawlett said. "If I had wanted to ease myself back in there was no chance of that happening when we went down to nine men.

"But it was great for my fitness, so it's a positive. It has been so frustrating because I came here and wanted to play week in, week out. Hopefully, now, I can play to the end of the year and finish with a flourish if I do go back up north.

"I haven't spoken to Craig Brown but he told my agent he hasn't made a decision yet on whether he is recalling me or extending the deal here. I don't want to go back and sit on the bench again, I want to play football.

"I have missed a lot of football and there were times last season when I was fit and there were people playing out of position in my position and I thought: 'How has it come to this?'. I'm not sure what the future holds, but my priority is just to play football wherever that may be. I have enjoyed it at St Johnstone, even though I have been injured. Everyone has been good to me."

St Johnstone have four players suspended today, three of them defenders. Steven Anderson and Chris Millar were sent off last weekend and Frazer Wright and Dave Mackay are also banned.

Lomas will ask David McCracken if he is ready to return early from a fractured cheekbone. The manager said: "It won't be a makeshift side. It is down to boys to come in and show what they can do.

"Last week, the players showed me what I already knew, that they have great character. We played 20 minutes with nine men, so away from home that had to be a great point."

John Robertson, the former Hearts striker who was appointed the club's share ambassador last month, has hailed the response of fans to the issue but has urged more to dig deep ahead of Wednesday's deadline. The club are well short of their £1.79m target and Robertson said in a statement: "To have raised more £800,000 in a short amount of time is nothing short of miraculous.

"We have just over a week to go to the finish of the share issue and I urge any fan who is still considering the purchase of shares to come forward before the deadline."

Danny Grainger has had a successful operation to repair cruciate ligament damage and will now begin rehabilitation.

PETER PAWLETT is determined to make the most of his remaining time at St Johnstone even though he has no idea how long he will be at the Perth club.

The winger, who moved to McDiarmid Park from Aberdeen on loan in August, has spent nearly three months out with a hamstring injury, returning as a substitute in last weekend's draw with St Mirren.

Pawlett, 21, has yet to be told whether he is wanted back at Pittodrie next month but is out to make an impression with Steve Lomas's side for now, starting in today's game at home to Hearts.

"I got a little run last week from the bench and it was good to be back," Pawlett said. "If I had wanted to ease myself back in there was no chance of that happening when we went down to nine men.

"But it was great for my fitness, so it's a positive. It has been so frustrating because I came here and wanted to play week in, week out. Hopefully, now, I can play to the end of the year and finish with a flourish if I do go back up north.

"I haven't spoken to Craig Brown but he told my agent he hasn't made a decision yet on whether he is recalling me or extending the deal here. I don't want to go back and sit on the bench again, I want to play football.

"I have missed a lot of football and there were times last season when I was fit and there were people playing out of position in my position and I thought: 'How has it come to this?'. I'm not sure what the future holds, but my priority is just to play football wherever that may be. I have enjoyed it at St Johnstone, even though I have been injured. Everyone has been good to me."

St Johnstone have four players suspended today, three of them defenders. Steven Anderson and Chris Millar were sent off last weekend and Frazer Wright and Dave Mackay are also banned.

Lomas will ask David McCracken if he is ready to return early from a fractured cheekbone. The manager said: "It won't be a makeshift side. It is down to boys to come in and show what they can do.

"Last week, the players showed me what I already knew, that they have great character. We played 20 minutes with nine men, so away from home that had to be a great point."

Meanwhile, Kevin McHattie says he is desperate to prove he can have a career at Harts after having his appetite whetted by recent appearances.

The 19-year-old defender has profited from the cruciate knee injury sustained by Danny Grainger, with the left-back's absence for the rest of the season giving McHattie the opportunity to hold down a regular first-team place.

The Scotland under-21 internationalist made his first start against today's opponents in the season's opener when Grainger was suspended and returned against Hibs earlier this month.

He said: "I feel I have settled in. That just made me want to play in bigger games, and hopefully get regular games."