St Johnstone manager Craig Levein hopeful of Luke Robinson return

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein is hopeful of adding Luke Robinson back into his squad this week.

Robinson spent the first half of the campaign on loan at McDiarmid Park before being recalled early by parent club Wigan Athletic at the beginning of January.

It was previously stated that, if the opportunity presented itself, Robinson would be welcomed back to Perth with open arms.

Now Levein hopes that will be the case and said: “He was improving and it is whether he can get going again and start where he left off. That would be my hope anyway.

“Luke was one of our most consistent players and, for a young lad, that is good.

“He did not just have a level of consistency, but he played for us at left wing-back and at left centre-back in a three.

“He covers two positions for us and has done both of those without any noticeable stress at all.

“He does his job efficiently and he is a good kid. I really like him as a guy and as a player. I’m sure he is going to get better.”

Saints have already added a couple of defensive options to their armoury in the window, including Kerr Smith on loan from Aston Villa.

Levein stressed that the 19-year-old’s arrival was always likely regardless of what the situation was with a possible Robinson return.

“I think we needed a different type of centre-back,” Levein said.

“I had obviously seen Kerr at Dundee United and he has other things he can help us with.

“This is his first loan. He has to prove himself on the training ground.

“When he gets an opportunity to get in the team, he needs to play well because we have been playing fairly well defensively.”

Levein added: “Kerr still has a considerable amount of growing to do, not so much up the way.

“A year or two from now, he will be a unit. I see