A lack of first team opportunities has led veteran St Johnstone midfielder Paul Sheerin to seek showdown talks next month. The 35-year-old is desperate for more regular football after making just three SPL appearances this term.

The midfielder, who signed a new one-year deal in the summer after helping the club get promoted, is now planning to speak to manager Derek McInnes about his future next month.

Sheerin told the Daily Record: "It's frustrating to train all week and have nothing at the end of it. I'm taking it bad sitting in the stand. It's torture.

"I'm training as hard as I've ever done and I'm desperate to play SPL football because I know I still have the ability. I feel I have been doing okay in closed-door games but it's down to the gaffer.

"I'm convinced I have a role to play and getting in the first team is all that matters to me right now.

"Perhaps because I've been here over five years I take not playing a wee bit more to heart but we'll see how the next few weeks go and I'll talk to the gaffer next month to get his take on things."