On-loan Hibs defender hopes to see Saints' barren goal run continue

Richie TOWELL holds the dubious distinction of having scored St Johstone's only goal in 1124 minutes of SPL action, a record which stretches back an incredible three months.

Astonishingly, no Saints player has found the net since Steve May claimed the second of his two goals in a 2-0 win over basement outfit Hamilton on February 1.

Twelve-and-a-half league matches have passed since then without any of Derek McInnes' players adding to the Perth side's miserly 18 goals in 34 games, a run broken only by Towell's own goal at McDiarmid Park the last time the two clubs met. The Republic of Ireland Under-21 star visibly winces as he's reminded of that particular fact but immediately insists he'll happily see that statistic increase by a further 90 minutes if it means a clean sheet for Colin Calderwood's team tomorrow.

Paradoxically, Towell knows the longer Saints' drought continues the more likely it is to be broken, recalling how he joined Hibs on loan from Celtic at a time when Calderwood's players were themselves suffering a similar problem, seven matches in January not producing a solitary goal.

Since then, though, Hibs haven't failed to score in any game, a run of five straight wins in a run which eventually stretched to seven matches unbeaten quashing the threat of a relegation dogfight although it came too late to earn a top-six finish. Aware Saints will be just as anxious as Hibs were back then, Towell said: "It's not a record I particularly want, but it's one I'd happily see extended tomorrow if it means a clean sheet and three more points for us.

"People may think there's nothing to play for now we are in the bottom six - and maybe they are right - but we still want to go out and put on a show for our fans and get as many wins as we can.

"The lads are giving everything in every game and even in training yesterday everyone was giving 100 per cent, the tempo was really high.

"Seventh is the best we can finish and Inverness Caley, who we still have to play, are four points ahead of us so our aim over the final four games is to overhaul them."

Tomorrow will see Towell, who arrived at Easter Road with barely 30 minutes of first team action to his name, play his 13th match for Hibs, a fact which delights the Dublin-born youngster who insists he has enjoyed his spell in Edinburgh so much he'd jump at the chance to do it all again next season.

He is, however, under conract to Celtic for another season with a further year's option beyond that leaving him, he admitted, facing a massive decision during the summer months. Obviously Celtic boss Neil Lennon will have a massive say in the 19-year-old's future but Towell is equally adamant that having enjoyed an extended run of first team matches he doesn't want to see his career stall.

He said: "It's been absolutely brilliant for me, I've really enjoyed it. Colin Calderwood is trying to play football exactly the way I want to play and similar to that of Celtic, getting the ball down, the full backs getting forward and putting crosses in. It's been fantastic for my career. I'd only had half-an-hour as a substitute against Inverness for Celtic and when I came to Hibs a lot of people probably hadn't even heard of me.

"I wasn't getting as much football as I would have liked at Celtic but I've gained a lot of experience here. The time has flown in and it's hard to believe there are only four games left and only three weeks of the season to go."

As such, Towell admitted he'd probably find it difficult to go back to Celtic if the future were to mean weekly "bounce" matches at the Glasgow club's Lennoxtown training centre before a handful of spectators rather than the thrill of a Saturday afternoon in the SPL.

He said: "I love playing in front of a crowd in a big game as I have been doing with Hibs, playing in an Edinburgh derby and against the likes of Rangers. Of course I would be honoured to go back and play for Celtic but I'd be just as happy if I were to return to Hibs on loan or permanently. If Celtic want me back then it will be a case of getting my head down, working hard and looking to get that break sooner rather than later.

"But I want to make a good career for myself and be a big player for whoever it is, playing in front of big crowds. So there will be big decisions to be made even although I am so young. It will be a case of sitting down with Neil Lennon and Colin Calderwood to see what is best for me." No such discussions have yet taken place, Towell mindful of the fact that he does remain under contract to Celtic while well aware Lennon has had much more important matters on his mind as his parent club chase a league and Scottish Cup double.

Equally, his own mind has been entirely focused on Hibs, the youngster having moved through to the East Coast for the duration of his stay at Easter Road as a measure of his commitment. He added: "To be honest, I haven't really seen much of Celtic since I've been here apart from a couple of games against Rangers and the match against Hibs when I had to sit in the stand at Celtic Park because I couldn't play because I'm on loan.

"Obviously I hope the boys go on and win both trophies because I know how much hard work they've put in. But I am concentrating on myself and Hibs, getting my own game right.

"I haven't spoken to Neil Lennon while I've been with Hibs, I think he's got bigger things like the league and Cup to exercise his mind but he'll know that during my time here I've had a good football education. He knows Colin Calderwood, his philosophy in regard to football and that's why he was really instrumental in wanting me to come here. Everything about Hibs has been fantastic, I couldn't have come to a better place."