Valakari hopes extra training time pays off

Simo Valakari believes St Johnstone are ready to halt their three-game losing streak after "very beneficial" extra time on the training pitch.

Saints return from the international break to host Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Recently-appointed manager Valakari said: "Spending more time together on the training field, spending time on little details, it has been very beneficial.

"Players who had little injuries have had time to heal and players with bigger injuries have been working hard.

"For me the confidence is our preparation, the daily process of what we do on the training ground.

"Three losses in a row is not us, we don't like it, but if we got three wins in a row it doesn't mean we would automatically win the fourth."

Valakari insists he is "excited" for the challenge of facing a "very well coached" Kilmarnock team.

"I really like what I see from Kilmarnock, I like how they overload the opponents' last line, they put a lot of players there," he said.

"They will put the ball in the box because they have big strikers, but if you give them time and space, they will play.

"We know we need to be our best to get something out of the match and we need to be humble, concentrated and do the small things as well as possible."