John Sutton lined up for return to St Mirren

St Johnstone’s John Sutton could be heading back to St Mirren – so long as the Paisley club’s new manager approves the deal.

John Sutton has not scored for St Johnstone since the opening day of the season. Picture: Craig Foy/SNS

It is understood the striker was being lined up for a return to his old club, with a January loan move discussed.

But it has now been thrown into doubt by Ian Murray’s decision to resign after Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Dumbarton, a result that left the Paisley club third bottom of the Ladbrokes Championship.

The deal could be resurrected, though, so long as the new man to take over at St Mirren gives it his blessing.

A compromise agreement for the Englishman’s wages would also have to be struck between the two clubs.

St Mirren chairman Stewart Gilmour is still wading through a list of managerial candidates, but an appointment could be made by the turn of the year.

Former Millwall and Dundee forward Sutton won a First Division winners’ medal in 2006 during a two-year stint with St Mirren before moving on to spells with Wycombe, Motherwell and Hearts.

But he has made just four starts under Tommy Wright since signing for St Johnstone in the summer and has not featured at all for the Perth side since a brief substitute run-out in last month’s 1-1 draw with Dundee.

His only goal for his new side came on the opening day of the Premiership season against Hearts and he has since dropped behind Steven MacLean, Graham Cummins and Michael O’Halloran in Wright’s list of attacking options.