Former Celtic player set for 'big opportunity' at Premiership rivals after having to be 'patient'
St Johnstone were forced into a crucial substitution in their 2-1 defeat to Hearts in Perth on Saturday.
Former Celtic youth player Josh Rae has a ‘big opportunity’ to establish himself as first choice goalkeeper at the Hoops’ Premiership rivals St Johnstone.
That’s according to the Perth club’s manager Simo Valakari who brought the 24-year old off the bench to replace injured Ross Sinclair at half time during their match with Hearts on Saturday. The Saints lost the game 2-1 with Kenneth Vargas netting the winner for the visitors who wrapped up their first away win in the league this season.
Speaking after the match, Valakari said: “Ross felt something in his hip and groin so he needed it to come out. Josh has been working really hard in training. He’s a good goalkeeper. Pity for Ross but now a big opportunity for Josh.”
Rae signed for St Johnstone in the summer having previously turned out for Peterhead, Queen of the South and Airdrieonians in the SPFL. He started the Scottish Premiership season seemingly as first choice under former gaffer Craig Levien and played in all four of their Scottish League Cup group stage matches plus their opening three Premiership fixtures and their Last 16 defeat to Rangers in the League Cup - but has not made an appearance since August before last weekend.
Teammate Jack Sanders also spoke about Rae after the match. In an interview with The Courier, after the defeat to Hearts, he said: “Josh has had to be patient, the standards in our training are really good every day.
“Everyone drives each other on. I know it’s similar with the goalkeepers. There was a change at the start of the season and you see Josh day to day, his standards haven’t dropped.
“I’m sure if Ross is injured, he will be more than ready to come in. I know when he was at Airdrie last season, they play a similar kind of way to how we are looking to play.
“Across the back, we are trying to keep the ball, have long spells of possession. So he is used to that. I thought when he came on for the second half, he was good. He was positive and that’s all we could ask from him really.”