Nicky Clark: St Johnstone need to move on from Celtic loss and focus on Rangers

Nicky Clark admits St Johnstone face a test of character as they prepare to face Rangers at Ibrox in their first game since being destroyed 6-0 by Celtic.

Saints have been handed two of the most formidable fixtures possible in the William Hill Premiership on successive weekends.

But experienced striker Clark has told his team-mates to embrace the challenge in Glasgow on Sunday evening.

“It’s not very easy coming off a defeat like last Saturday’s and then going to Ibrox, but that’s part and parcel of football,” he said.

“You need to play against these sort of teams. As a player you want to play in these sort of environments, like Ibrox and Parkhead.

“It’s another Old Firm team we’re coming up against us and it will be tough off the back of a sore one last weekend.

“We’ve looked over that but we need to put that behind us and focus on Sunday. We know it will be difficult but they’re games you look forward to.”

Saints will be boosted by the fact they now have a new permanent manager after Simo Valakari was appointed as Craig Levein’s successor on Tuesday.

The former Finland international will watch from the directors’ box on Sunday as he waits on his work permit, with interim bosses Andy Kirk and Alec Cleland continuing to take charge from the technical area.

“The new manager will tell us stuff he wants us to try and do,” said Clark.

“I know he can’t be in the dugout, which I’m sure will be frustrating for him, but we’ll go there and have a go and try and do what he wants us to do.”