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Teen talent Franczak grateful for Valakari's trust

Teenage midfielder Fran Franczak has thanked St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari for showing faith in him.

Franczak, 17, became Saints' youngest ever player - aged 16 yrs and 38 days old - when he made his debut against Hibs last season.

This term, Franczak is beginning to establish himself under Valakari - starting three of the last four games - and hopes to feature in Saturday's Scottish Cup tie at home to Motherwell.

He said: "It is obviously really good the manager has put his trust in me, we have a very good relationship.

"There is a lot of positivity, everyone has a good mentality in the team, and we are ready for the game on Saturday to win."

Franczak was born in Poland but moved to Scotland over a decade ago, growing up as a St Johnstone fan.

And having been at Hampden to watch the club's Scottish Cup triumph in 2014, he admits playing for his boyhood heroes in the competition is special.

"It means a lot, I went to the 2014 final with one of my friends, but I watched the one in 2021 on the TV," he said.

"I was seven [in 2014], I remember the parade in the town afterwards, my mum still shows me pictures of that sometimes."