Simo Valakari has laid out a clear directive for his St Johnstone squad as they step back into Scotland's top tier: they must become "solid and streetwise" if they hope to make a meaningful impact in the Premiership. The Finnish manager, who took the reins of the Perth-based club in October 2025, was unable to prevent the team's relegation to the Scottish Championship at the end of that campaign. However, after a swift and decisive promotion push, the Saints are set to return to the elite level, with their first match back against Kilmarnock slated for Sunday and broadcast live on Sky Sports.
During their championship-winning season, St Johnstone suffered only three defeats, a testament to the consistency and quality that saw them bounce straight back up. Yet Valakari is realistic about the step up in competition and insists that the team cannot simply rely on the same gentle, attractive style that served them well in the second tier.
"We know what we are, but we cannot be this naive, beautiful, nice team coming out of the Championship playing nice football," he told Sky Sports News. "If we are not hard to beat, if we are not solid, if we are not ruthless about ourselves, it will be difficult.
Yes, it's our way of playing and we want to do these things, but we need to be ready for this challenge and sometimes be streetwise." Valakari's remarks underline a broader shift in philosophy that many promoted clubs must undergo when they re-enter the Premiership. The top flight demands a higher degree of physicality, tactical discipline and mental toughness. In practical terms, this means the Saints will need to tighten their defensive shape, press more aggressively, and develop a greater capacity to win duels both in the air and on the ground. The manager's emphasis on being "streetwise" suggests an awareness that games will be won not only by technical skill but also by clever positioning, opportunistic play and the ability to exploit opponents' mistakes.
The manager has been proactive in preparing his squad for this challenge. While retaining the core group that secured promotion, Valakari has also bolstered the roster with eight new signings, adding depth and fresh attributes to the team.
This blend of continuity and reinforcement is designed to give St Johnstone a balanced squad capable of coping with the rigors of a full Premiership season. He highlighted that the recruitment process began well before the conclusion of the Championship campaign, allowing the club to secure players on two- and three-year contracts early on. "It was important that we started this process already before our Championship season," Valakari explained.
"We got the players in and we made them two, three-year contracts. So we knew that we never wanted to be in that situation as we were after the Premiership season." The manager expressed satisfaction with the way the new arrivals have integrated, noting that each brings a distinct personality and set of qualities that complement the existing squad.
"These new additions have added their own personality, their qualities in our squad," he said. "We have a very balanced squad.
But when these real games start happening, maybe there will be injuries, there will be some injuries on some of our players, or things like that. We have a foundation, we have good players, we have enough depth in our squad as well. We are as ready as you can be after pre-season to start the Premiership campaign." In addition to tactical adjustments, Valakari is also mindful of the psychological aspect of returning to the Premiership.
The players must shed any lingering sense of inferiority that can accompany a recent relegation and instead embrace a mindset of belonging at the highest level. This involves cultivating confidence, resilience after setbacks, and a collective belief that they can compete with established top‑flight clubs.
The manager's call for a "hard to beat" attitude is as much about mental fortitude as it is about physical robustness. The upcoming fixture against Kilmarnock will serve as an early litmus test for the Saints' new approach. A solid performance, even if it does not result in a win, could lay the groundwork for confidence and momentum.
Conversely, a lackluster display might highlight areas that need immediate refinement. Valakari's emphasis on preparation suggests that the team will enter the match with a clear game plan focused on defensive organization, quick transitions, and capitalising on set‑piece opportunities. Beyond the immediate match, the manager is already looking ahead to the long‑term demands of the season.
The Premiership schedule is notoriously congested, with midweek fixtures, cup commitments and the inevitable travel across Scotland. Squad rotation, injury management and maintaining high training standards will be crucial. Valakari's early contract work and squad depth are intended to mitigate these challenges, ensuring that the team can sustain performance levels throughout the campaign. In summary, Simo Valakari is urging St Johnstone to evolve from a pleasant, possession‑based side into a tougher, more pragmatic outfit capable of thriving in the Premiership.
By retaining the heart of the promotion-winning team, adding fresh talent, and instilling a street‑wise, resilient mentality, the Finnish coach believes his side can not only survive but also compete respectably at the highest level of Scottish football. The journey begins this Sunday against Kilmarnock, and the eyes of the club's supporters will be keenly watching to see whether the Saints can translate Valakari's vision into results on the pitch.