CALLUM DAVIDSON hopes Craig Conway will add some much needed experience to his St Johnstone side ahead of the new season.
The former Blackburn, Cardiff and Dundee United winger is expected to pen a one-year deal with Saints ahead of the Scottish Premiership season starting on Saturday.
Conway, 35, will likely make his debut against his former club at Tannadice this weekend and Davidson is hopeful that he will have a positive impact on his squad as a whole.
He said: “Hopefully we will get something done before Saturday. I think he has vast knowledge of the game and experience. He has played at a high level for a long time.
“I think he has the quality, in the final third I am always looking for that bit of quality to produce goals. He works extremely hard, he runs without the ball, which for me is a big thing.
“He will bring that bit of experience and that bit of composure and calmness to the team. I know myself as a player, a young player when I was here, the older boys helped me massively.
“So I think it is important I have those players in the squad that will bring the young ones through.
“I’m not an ageist manager, I played until I was 37 myself so I’m not one of those who just because he is over 30 I won’t sign him or I won’t play him.
“It would be stupid of me not to do it and it is great to see the likes of Chris Burke producing the form he is at Kilmarnock and hopefully Craig can replicate that here.”
The former Scotland international was offered a deal at McDiarmid Park after starring as a trialist in bounce games against Hibs and Aberdeen following his release from Salford City this summer.
And Davidson has been impressed with what he has seen after Conway was recommended by a friend down south.
Asked if he saw much of him during his stint down south, Davidson added: “No not really, I was only at Stoke for a short period of time.
“I just spoke to my friend from Salford, he spoke very highly of him so that was basically one of the main reasons because I trust his opinion.
“I know Craig from beforehand anyway, I have seen lots of games the last couple of years.
“I have watched a lot of games on Wyscout with him and spoke to a lot of people.”
St Johnstone kick off their season with a Tayside derby crunch match at Tannadice Park as Dundee United return to the Premiership for the first time since their relegation to the Championship in 2016.
One man the Saints defence will have to watch out for is United hitman Lawrence Shankland who will be aiming to make an impact in Scotland’s top flight this season.
On the Terrors talisman, Davidson said: “Lawrence has done excellent to rebuild his career since he was at Aberdeen. All credit to him that way. In my time at Dunfermline for 3-4 months, he was at Ayr.
“He is just an out and out goalscorer. That’s what he’s got. He’s got an eye for goal. He always seems to be in the right position. It will be a big season for him, a big test for him. All credit to him for getting to where he is.
“It’s probably unfair of me to talk about another player. He has played extremely well since he left Aberdeen.
“He has revived his career. He’s a good player but there are other players who are good players as well and we need to keep an eye out for them. It’s not just Shankland.”
Davidson was also quick to highlight the firepower he has at his own disposal, adding: “You talk about Shankland, but I have May, Hendry and a few others, Kane as well. They are my main three strikers.
“I’m looking for goals from all round the team, when you look at successful teams you need goals from set plays, you need goals from counter attack, you need goals from people in the box.
“I think it is all over the pitch and I am going to ask the team to get goals from everywhere.
“I think obviously the front three will be the ones who actually score the most goals, but I need other players to actually chip in and contribute, which will make a successful season.”
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