Valakari on 'beneficial' break, losing run & Killie challenge

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari has been speaking to the media before the game against Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• He is eager to get back to Premiership action after the international break and says "it has been a long two weeks" since the defeat by Motherwell.

• The hiatus, though, has been "very beneficial" in clearing up some injuries and allowing the team to "spend more time together, more time on the training field and get more of the little details right".

• On Saints' run of defeats, Valakari says: "Three losses in a row is not us, we don't like it."

• The Finn is pleased with the "good competition" for places for centre-back and says it gives "flexibility for different situations and makes us stronger."

• He is "very excited" to face a "strong" Kilmarnock team and insists his side "know what we need to do".

• Killie have "good, physical and capable players" and a "handful of strikers who are a very big threat in the box".

• On potential business in January, Valakari says: "It depends on what we do today or tomorrow, what kind of window we will be in."