St Johnstone’s winless run stretched to seven games following Sunday night’s defeat at Ibrox.

New Saints manager Simo Valakari watched on from the stands as his side slipped to a 2-0 loss to Rangers with Czech winger Vaclav Cerny netting twice for Philippe Clement’s men.

The Perth club had been desperate to bounce back from an agonising 6-0 defeat to Celtic the week before, and the new Finnish head coach will be grateful for the opportunity to hit the reset button over the international break.

Goalkeeper Ross Sinclair believes the break comes at a good time for the squad. “It gives the boys, who are not obviously away, that time to work on the training pitch with the gaffer as soon as he comes in,” he said. “I'm sure he'll be a breath of fresh air for us.”

He added: “There's a long season and we need to start putting results together before Christmas.”

The 23-year-old, who has worked his way up the St Johnstone youth ranks since the age of 12, says he is “really excited” to get to work under the new manager.

“I've only been introduced to him, so I don't know much about him,” he said. “But I've seen stuff online and he really looks like he's got a positive vibe. That's what we need and can't wait to work with him.”

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It has been an unsettled start to the season for the Saints shot stoppers, who had to go without a permanent goalkeeping coach for three months. Gordon Marshall was given the role in September after Craig Hinchcliffe left in the summer for Aberdeen.

“It was hard,” Sinclair admitted. “I was taking my training sessions myself and then obviously trying to get myself in the team, so it was tough. We didn't have that shoulder to lean on, me and Josh [Rae], and obviously the younger goalkeepers, which was tough because that's what we needed, that experience.

“I think it's a great appointment having Gordon [Marshall] coming in. I think he's obviously one of the best, so it's good to have that and hopefully it will show. He said, your time will come, keep fighting. And obviously Josh got the run of games. It's the life of a goalkeeper. You're going to sit on the sideline.”

He added: “It was harder because the goalkeeper's in a situation where we didn't have a coach, we didn't have a shoulder to lean on. It was basically up to us to try and push ourselves forward. I think I have every game.”

New Saints boss Valakari will be hoping to kick off his tenure with a home victory as St Johnstone face Ross County at McDiarmid Park after the international break.