More injury woe for Saints

St Johnstone has confirmed top scorer Collin Samuel would be out for six weeks following exploratory knee surgery.

The Trinidad and Tobago striker, who suffered the injury in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League defeat by Kilmarnock a week and a half ago, underwent the procedure in London on Tuesday. It is a third major setback in recent weeks for Derek McInnes' men following the news captain Kevin Rutkiewicz and midfielder Martin Hardie could be out for three months and the rest of the season, respectively.

McInnes told his club's official website, www.perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk: "It's another blow but we have to get on with it. The good news is that the damage was obvious and quickly repaired and so it is not like he has come back unsure of what the problem is and has uncertainty hanging over him."

McInnes could be facing a further defensive dilemma for the visit of St Mirren on Saturday as left-back Danny Grainger has not trained this week and is already a doubt for the weekend fixture.