The conspiracy theorists put two and two together to get five when Matty Kennedy didn’t make St Johnstone’s match day squad at the weekend, manager Tommy Wright has insisted.
Kennedy is in contention to play against Livingston tomorrow after recovering from a training ground injury – and Aberdeen haven’t come up with a deal that will change that. Wright said: “Matty took a kick on his ankle in training last week and didn’t recover in time to play.
“He’s due to train today and should be in the squad for Wednesday.
“I know people will be thinking I’ve got to say that and the conspiracy theorists will think he was left out because it was the cup.
“But they don’t know Matty. He’s genuine and wants to play in every game. The first thing he said when he came in this morning was about getting Ayr in the next round of the Scottish Cup.
“He’s desperate to play in that one because he’s from there and he said that was the tie he’d been hoping for.
“So that tells you everything about what type of lad he is.
“At no point has he come to me or his agent has come to me to say he’s demanding to go in this window. I always think the one thing that can affect players is uncertainty but there is no uncertainty here. He’s going to Aberdeen in the summer.
“I have been quite clear that I don’t want him to go in this window and have told the club that.
“But I do know everyone has their price.
“At this stage there hasn’t been an agreement between Aberdeen and us.
“Derek McInnes has been really good. He’s one of the managers who is on the phone keeping you up to date with stuff in these situations.
“He’s been great about it. We spoke over the weekend but Matty is still very much our player.”
With Kennedy leaving McDiarmid Park at the end of the season, securing fellow winger Drey Wright on a new contract becomes an even bigger priority for Saints.
