St Johnstone manager Steven MacLean shares his plan for new signing Luke Jephcott

Steven MacLean has hailed the signing of striker Luke Jephcott - and has urged him to now prove how good he is.

The 23-year-old left English Championship-bound Plymouth at the end of last season - a former club of MacLean’s - and could even make his debut this weekend against Alloa.

A former Welsh U21 international, Jephcott recently spent time out on loan at Swindon Town and has penned a two-year deal in Perth.

“He will bring goals, hopefully,” MacLean told the PA.

“For his size he is a tough boy and he will take a hit. He links the play well and looks like a goalscorer.

“I’ve played in League Two, League One and the Championship. I’ve told him it’s different up here, 100 miles an hour and he knows that. He is excited.

“He can use it as a platform. That is a big selling point for me. Go and show how good you are.

“Luke is still a young boy. He is young enough to kick on and do really well for himself.

“He has potential and has played for Plymouth at a good level.

“And he also has the experience of being at Swindon, so he is robust.”

Jephcott will not be used from a flank and is very much here to play centrally - with his penalty box instinct something which caught the eye.

MacLean said: “Strikers will score goals from distance but they are one in 10, 20 or even 30.

“You get goals in the box and that is maybe what we missed against Stenhousemuir.

“It’s not luck being in the right place at the right time. It’s a knack and is hard to teach.

“It is up to us to create chances and get Luke in the box.

“He can play off the front and as a central striker. He is a goalscorer. He will not be playing off any side.

“I had a couple of good reports about him. He just wanted to get up the road and get started.”