St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari emphasized the determination within his squad as the team returned to the Scottish Premiership following promotion. The Saints narrowly edged Kilmarnock 4-3 in a thrilling opening-day encounter, with key contributions from Jamie Gullan, who provided three assists, and midfielder Sam Stanton.

Valakari highlighted the resilience of several players who had faced prolonged spells outside the top tier and the motivation derived from their second opportunity at Premiership football. Gullan, a former Hibernian youth player, revealed that less than two years ago, he had considered stepping away from full-time football. Meanwhile, Stanton had not featured in the Premiership since his previous club, Hibernian, was relegated in 2014.

The head coach remarked that while young players often assume they will have multiple chances at the highest level, some of his squad have confronted the reality of limited opportunities. “Our players have waited a long time to get this chance at this level,” Valakari said. “Some have been in the Premiership before and, for others, it’s their first time. A career in football is short but, when you are young, you don’t realise that.”

He added that the players understand the significance of their current moment. “Some could even have doubted they’d get this chance again. Now they are back, they are determined to do everything to show they can play at this level. Some will be thinking this is their last chance to be a Premiership player. Their moment is now and it’s there for them to take it. That is a powerful thing.”

St Johnstone’s strong start to the season underlines a renewed ambition to establish themselves in the top division, driven by the players’ appreciation of their hard-won return and desire to prove their capabilities on a bigger stage.