St Johnstone

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Josh McPake backs himself to be a success next season when he makes the switch from St Johnstone to Hearts.

The 24-year-old winger has scored 19 goals this season, helping the Perth side win the Scottish Championship and promotion back to the top flight.

But it was announced in January that he had signed a pre-contract agreement to join the current Premiership leaders this summer.

"I think I am ready to take that step up," he told BBC Scotland. "I know Hearts are a massive club, but I back myself.

"I could do it here and I think I can do it at Hearts as well and we'll need to wait and see next season."

McPake was speaking after helping Saints beat Raith Rovers 2-0 on the night the Perth side were presented with the Championship trophy.

"I feel brilliant," he said. "What a result and what a season we've had.

"As a team collectively, we've been brilliant all season and this just tops it off."

McPake started his career with Rangers but had loan spells with Dundee, Greenock Morton, Harrogate, Morecambe, Tranmere Rovers and Queen's Park before finding himself released and joining Stirling Albion.

He then suffered relegation to League 2 before being snapped up by St Johnstone in June 2024.

McPake paid tribute to Simo Valakari for the manager's role in his fine season.

"This club's been absolutely brilliant for me at a time I needed it and hopefully I've repaid them," he added as he explained their warm embrace at the final whistle.

"It was emotional for me and for Simo, just for what we've done for each other."

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St Mirren have signed St Johnstone goalkeeper Ross Sinclair on a seven-day emergency loan.

First-choice Shamal George is already out injured, while back-up Ryan Mullen - who gifted the opening goal - was forced off in the first half of Sunday's Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Celtic and will now miss at least three months with a torn thigh muscle that requires surgery.

Sinclair, 24, has not featured for Championship winners St Johnstone this season, but made 10 appearances in the Premiership last term.

He is likely to make his debut against St Mirren on Saturday.

Josh McPake, the 24-year-old winger who will join Hearts this summer from St Johnstone, has revealed that he was poised to join Forest Green Rovers until then manager Troy Deeney had a rant against his own players and was dismissed shortly afterwards. (The Courier), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

St Johnstone will not have talks with 29-year-old centre-half Bozo Mikulic, who is out for the rest of the season through injury and is out of contract this summer, until they know if promotion to the Scottish Premiership is secured. (The Courier), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Former Scotland left-back Barry Douglas has officially announced he is retiring from "the playing side of the beautiful game", stressing his "immense pride" after a career during which he won league titles in England and Poland.

The 36-year-old has been without a club since leaving St Johnstone following their relegation from the Scottish Premiership last summer.

But, before then, he had twice won the Ekstraklasa, and the Polish Super Cup, with Lech Poznań, the Turkish Cup with Konyaspor and the Championship in England with both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United.

"In my wildest dreams, I never thought I'd make it as a professional footballer - never mind win multiple titles in different countries and go on to play almost 500 games," Douglas said on Instagram., external

"Now that I'm finally 'hanging up the boots', I can look back with immense pride, knowing I gave it everything I had."

In a time when the Scotland left-back spot was dominated by Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney, Douglas managed just one cap, as a substitute for the former in a 1-0 win over Hungary in 2018.

"Every kid grows up dreaming of playing for their country - so to have made that a reality is something I'll always be incredibly proud of," he said.

Having started his career with Queen's Park, Douglas moved to Dundee United, Lech, Konyaspor, Wolves, Leeds and, after a loan to Blackburn Rovers, returned for a second title-winning spell with Lech before his final season with St Johnstone.

Douglas paid special tribute to his wife, Debbie, saying his globetrotting career was "as much yours as it is mine".

"The truth is, without you by my side, I would never have achieved what I have," he added.

"I'm forever grateful for your support, your sacrifices, and for taking that leap into the unknown when we first moved to Poland together to begin our adventure.

"Now look at us - two beautiful kids, multiple winners' medals and memories that will last a lifetime."