Liam Craig rejoins St Johnstone on 1-year deal

Liam Craig has returned to St Johnstone. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

The midfielder starred at McDiarmid Park for six years after signing for the Perth club from Falkirk, originally on a one-year loan, in 2007.

He helped St Johnstone earn promotion to the top flight and then contributed to their climb up the table over the coming years. Before leaving for Hibs in 2013 he was viewed as one of the top players in the St Johnstone first team.

Saints boss Tommy Wright has hailed the recapture, telling the club’s website: “When a manager makes any signing he’s pleased but the thing about Liam is that I didn’t want him to leave in the first place.

“His experience and knowledge of the club is vital and that came into my thinking. He has a wealth of experience but is still a good age and he has shown in training and in the game against Real Sociedad that he is as good as ever.

“Also, he chips in with goals from midfield and that is something any team needs, so over all I am delighted”.

Craig added: “It goes without saying that I’m delighted to come back. I have a lot of great memories from the last time and I want to play my part in creating new ones and helping the club continue its successes in recent years, particularly the last two.

“Sometimes you just get the ‘right fit’ and in the time I’ve been back training it’s almost like I’ve never been away.“

Craig initially signed a pre-contract to join Hibs in January 2013. However, it proved to be an unhappy time for both player and his new club.

Craig was made captain in his first season but Hibs were relegated at the conclusion of the campaign.

Even though new boss Alan Stubbs kept him on as skipper it didn’t stop Craig from dropping in and out of the line-up as Hibs attempted to make an immediate top flight return.

He was subsequently released at the end of the 2014/15 season.