St Johnstone have been dealt a blow with the news that striker Steven MacLean could be out for up to six months after undergoing knee surgery this week.
It had been hoped the former Aberdeen and Sheffield Wednesday forward would only require a 'tidy-up' procedure but that was not the case and he now faces a lengthy absence.
Saints boss Tommy Wright told the club website: "While the area of the knee affected was not the same area as the one which gave him a problem last season, unfortunately the surgeon needed to do another procedure in different area.
“The consequences of that is an absence of between four and six months. I’m extremely disappointed for the player because he worked extremely hard to get back from his injury last season and has been magnificent since he returned."
St Johnstone will also be without defender Tam Scobbie for a number of months, with the ex-Falkirk full-back set to have an operation to repair medial ligament damage on Monday.
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