LEFT IN SAINT'S WAKE

Right-back Adam relishes flank switch as Simo’s boys leave rivals in the rear view

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ADAM FORRESTER never thought getting unleashed on the left would be the making of his St Johnstone loan move.
The Hearts right-back's Perth stay has been transformed by Simo Valakari's inspired call to switch his flank.

Forrester is finally showing his true form after a sticky start.

Saints fans had been wondering why Valakari made such a big play of snaring the Scotland Under-21 cap.

He looked out of sorts in five starts before dropping out of the team in early October.

Forrester then featured just once - off the bench - in two months.

But he was magic against Morton on his third successive start to help Saints streak five points clear of Partick Thistle at the Championship summit.

And he’s relishing the foreign role where Valakari is testing him much more than expected.

The 20-year-old said: “I dabbled in the left-back position years ago when I was in the youth academy at Rangers.

“But it was never this type of role I'm playing now. I was never coming into midfield, receiving the ball on the left, that sort of stuff.

“I did that kind of thing on the right earlier in the season, coming inside.

“I feel I am still improving and getting better at it.

“If it’s not on, I just stay wide and try and connect with Josh McPake or whoever is on the left side. It’s all about picking your moments.”

Forrester racked up 34 appearances for Hearts in a breakthrough 2024-25 season.