Danny Devine confident inury-hit Inverness can push up the Premiership
Inverness defender Danny Devine believes Caley Thistle can overcome adversity and push themselves up the Ladbrokes Premiership table.
Caley Thistle have five first-team players out long term and midfielder Andrea Mbuyi-Mutombo (Achilles) will miss the visit of St Johnstone, while Ross Draper (ankle) is very doubtful.
Inverness have faced a number of other injury problems this season, but the Highland side are only three points off the top six.
"It's been well documented with the injuries we have had but the lads have just had to get on with it," Devine said. "The lads and the coaching staff have just had to pull together.
"It's been the same boys every week and they have put in a brilliant shift. A couple of wins and we are right up the table.
"It's credit to the boys, with the amount of setbacks we have had we are still right in amongst it and starting on Saturday hopefully we can get on a run of good results."
Inverness were on a six-match unbeaten run before the international break, but lost 2-0 at Kilmarnock last weekend after failing to turn possession into clear chances.
Devine said: "The lads were beating themselves up after the game and we have been working hard all week to try to put it right against St Johnstone this weekend.
"Hopefully we can keep the ball but try to get forward with a bit of purpose. We will try to play our brand of football but with a bit more cutting edge and more spirit and fight than we had at Kilmarnock last weekend."
Michael O'Halloran will return to the St Johnstone starting line-up after a foot injury prevented him beginning against Partick Thistle.
The winger had missed the 5-1 defeat of Aberdeen before the international break with a hamstring strain but manager Tommy Wright confirmed O'Halloran was ready to start in Inverness.
Midfielder Chris Millar is again ruled out with a hamstring injury.
O'Halloran admits he would be thrilled with a Scotland call-up after being touted for international recognition.
Saints boss Wright recently predicted O'Halloran would be in Gordon Strachan's plans soon following an excellent start to the season.
O'Halloran's pace has proved a major weapon in the Perth side's armoury and he is ready to start against Inverness after ridding himself off a hamstring injury and foot knock.
He said: "I picked up a few under-21 caps when I was at Bolton and it is nice to hear the manager here talking about me in potential Scotland terms. It shows he has confidence in me.
"You have to aim high. The national team were really unlucky pushing for the Euros and I'd like to think one day I can get into the full Scotland squad."
But his immediate priority is helping Saints back to winning ways after a 2-1 loss to Partick Thistle.
"I don't think we did ourselves justice up in Inverness last year," the 24-year-old said.
"We put in two disappointing performances. We want to put that right and bounce back from the Partick defeat."
Source: PAR
