David Wotherspoon "desperate" to return for Kilmarnock game and aid St Johnstone's safety push

David Wotherspoon is “desperate” to return to action this weekend and help St Johnstone manoeuvre out of a sticky situation.

The Perth club is hovering worryingly close to the relegation playoff spot – three points above second-from-bottom Ross County – with just three fixtures remaining.

A tricky trip down to Rugby Park to face 10th-placed Kilmarnock is next up tomorrow afternoon and Wotherspoon, who has been nursing an ankle knock, is champing at the bit to play his part.

That was the message from interim manager Steven MacLean earlier this week.

“Wotherspoon has done a couple of bits with the physio so we’re hopeful he is going to train,” MacLean explained.

“Fingers crossed there will be no reactions to his ankle sprain and he’ll be available for the weekend. He has seen the specialists and they were quite happy with him.

“He is desperate to play because he knows what it means to the club.

“He is an experienced player and is trying to do everything he can to play, as are all of the boys who are injured. Nobody wants to be injured.

“I’ve been a player and it’s the worst time of your playing career when you are injured.”

Local legend Wotherspoon, it would be fair to say, has not played as many minutes as most anticipated since returning from the World Cup at the tail end of last year.

“It has been frustrating for David and for us,” MacLean admitted.

“He hadn’t played a lot before he went to the World Cup and then he has picked up a few niggles. We want to have all of our good players fit.

“But David is a strong character and he will be looking forward to getting back in the squad.

“I speak to him regularly and he is just desperate to get on that pitch.

“Often when you have had a long-term injury, you pick up niggles