St Johnstone boss Callum Davidson heaps praise upon Liam Craig after landmark appearance

The former Falkirk and Hibs midfielder has helped the Perth side to Division One glory, numerous top half finishes and featured in European competition over two spells at McDiarmid Park.

Davidson played alongside Craig in his second stint with Saints and the pair built up a strong relationship on the left flank.

But as the St Johnstone boss explains, neither were the most mobile players on the park.

“It’s fantastic for Liam to hit that landmark and I’m delighted for him,” he said. “It’s brilliant. He’s the type of character you want about the place – on the training pitch, in the dressing room, on the pitch itself. 

“I probably helped him get through most of those appearances when I played with him. 

“I used to call him a holding winger, when I played with him! He used to call me the holding left back! Neither of us moved! 

“St Johnstone have had a wee history of these landmarks in the last three or four years. There’s Chris Millar, Murray Davidson, Steven Anderson, to name a few. 

“The club has been able to keep three or four players for a long time which is actually a strength, because there’s always a constant in the dressing room – and if they’re good characters it’s even better. 

“All credit to these players for keeping going and keeping motiving themselves.”

Craig is now just 41 appearances away from eclipsing Steven Anderson as St Johnstone’s all-time record appearance holder.

And Davidson reckons there is no reason why the 33-year-old can’t surpass the 441 games of the legendary Saints defender.

He continued: “It’s definitely realistic.

“One thing about Liam is he looks after himself really well – and he’s reinvented himself. 

“He’s reinvented himself as a centre midfielder. He’s managed to adapt his game because he understands the game – he’s an intelligent football player. 

“When you play wide it’s a lot of energy and a lot of running. You have to be more composed in the centre of the pitch and it’s all credit to Liam for doing that.”

St Johnstone travel to Kilmarnock in search of their first win of the season.

Killie are also looking for their opening victory of the campaign and Davidson is expecting a difficult test from a side who picked up a valuable point against champions Celtic last weekend.

He said: “I’ve watched all three of their games and I thought they played really well in all of them. 

“They’re going to be tough opponents. They work extremely hard as a unit, they defend really well and they’ve got that little bit of threat on the counter attack. 

“It’s a tough place to go too and we’ll expect a hard game. “

Davidson also hopes to welcome back a number absentees at Rugby Park with Zander Clark, Stevie May, Murray Davidson and Chris Kane all close to a return.

He added: “Young John Robertson got a kick on his ankle early doors [at Ibrox] but apart from that, they’re all fine. 

“Stevie’s close. He’s touch and go for tomorrow, if not, probably the Aberdeen game. 

“Then obviously Michael’s back from suspension which is good. Another body in. 

“I think sometimes when you try and rush an injury sometimes you can get a reoccurrence of it.

“You just have to be careful with the size of squad we have, we just don’t rush them back too quick and they are out for a longer period of time.”