Valakari juggles Enes Alic signing while lauding resilient St Mirren

26‑year‑old Bosnian left‑back Enes Alic is on the verge of joining St Johnstone as manager Simo Valakari prepares his side for Saturday’s Scottish Premiership clash in Paisley, while he also praised the resilience of opponents St Mirren after their play‑off survival last season.

Ahead of Saturday’s Scottish Premiership clash in Paisley, St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari addressed two contrasting fronts. He confirmed the imminent signing of 26‑year‑old Bosnian left‑back Enes Alic and expressed admiration for the opposition, St Mirren. The remarks set the tone for the upcoming encounter.

Valakari said St Johnstone are close to securing Alic’s services after monitoring the player for some time. The deal, however, hinges on a work permit that remains pending. Consequently, the transfer will not be finalised before the weekend match.

The manager acknowledged that the squad still has many areas to improve. He highlighted the three points earned from the opening‑weekend victory over Kilmarnock as the biggest positive so far. Those points provide a modest platform for the team.

Valakari stressed the importance of retaining the core group from last season, arguing that “you can’t buy the culture, you cannot buy the togetherness”. He believes that continuity could be decisive in this campaign. Maintaining the existing chemistry, he added, is a priority.

Speaking about St Mirren, the Finnish manager said he has been “very impressed” with the Paisley side. He added, “They had a very difficult last season and survived through the play‑offs, and still have the old DNA of St Mirren.” The compliment underscores the respect he holds for the opponents.

Despite the pending signing, Valakari confirmed St Johnstone have a full squad to select for Saturday’s encounter. He expects the depth to provide the team with tactical flexibility. The manager believes the available options will allow adaptation during the match.