Zach Mitchell keen to ‘fully embrace’ St Johnstone’s relegation battle

Zach Mitchell sees the “beauty” in being thrust into a relegation battle in a new league after joining St Johnstone on loan from Charlton.

The 20-year-old has twice come off the bench for Saints, who go into the weekend six points adrift at the foot of the Premiership.

The defender arrives with first-team experience, having made 18 appearances for Charlton and 28 on loan with Colchester last season. And he is up for the relegation scrap.

Mitchell said: “That’s the beauty of it, going into a new environment, a completely different challenge on and off the pitch. But that’s something I want to fully embrace.”

Saints host Hearts on Sunday looking to return to the form that earned them four consecutive wins before last weekend’s defeat at Kilmarnock.

And Mitchell has been energised by the enthusiasm of manager Simo Valakari since arriving late in the transfer window.

“I have loved it,” he said. “From the first day I came in, he is inspirational in the way he is, his mood. The way he trains and his application is reflected in the team and how he wants us to play and it has rubbed off on all of us.

“We are going to try and implement his mood in the way we play as well.

“The team have just come out of a good run. It obviously wasn’t the result we wanted the other week but I think the mood is positive and there is a lot of togetherness.

“We will be looking to this weekend to get back on a winning run.”