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BY FRASER MACKIE St Johnstone hat-trick hero Adama Sidibeh is set to miss the Championship home match against Queen’s Park a week on Saturday. Sidibeh has been selected once again by his national squad. The Gambia are out of World Cup qualifying contention but will be playing a friendly match against Kuwait during the international break. Sidibeh is keen to continue his fine scoring form for his country after four in two games last month. He netted doubles against Gabon and Seychelles. The Scorpions call-up from head coach Johnathan McKinstry means further disruption on the domestic front. Sidibeh, who netted three goals against Airdrie on Saturday, missed the 0-0 draw against Ross County last month. And the 27-year-old only started on the bench at Arbroath after travel issues delayed his return from Africa to Perth. “The Gambia has a friendly match and Adama has been called up,” reported manager Simo Valakari. “It’s a Fifa international window, so it doesn’t make a difference whether it’s a friendly or a competitive international. “I understand why their coach has organised a game because they have been getting some good results and want to keep building momentum. “I understand why the league doesn’t call off all the games for internationals. “It’s up to us to adapt. That’s why we have a squad. There are no excuses.” Valakari turned to Jamie Gullan to play centre-forward in Sidibeh’s absence last time. The ex-Raith Rovers man will likely come into the frame again for that role as Louis Lloyd continues to be nursed back to fitness. Valakari was delighted that all Sidibeh’s hard graft paid off on Saturday with his terrific treble in the 3-0 win over Airdrie. Sidibeh scored against East Kilbride in the first match of the Premier Sports Cup group stage in July and in the victory at Raith in September. But he craved a greater goal return — and got it in style to keep Saints three points clear at the Championship summit. Valakari said: “Strikers want to score. When the goals aren’t coming, there are two choices for Adama. “One was to feel sorry for himself. The other was to do something else for the team — and that’s what he’s done. “He has worked so hard for the team and that’s why everyone is so pleased for him.” Meanwhile, Ghanaian midfielder Aaron Essel is set to return to McDiarmid Park next month. Essel had been on loan with North Texas SC in the MLS Next Pro league since February. The 20-year-old, signed by Craig Levein, still has 18 months on his St Johnstone contract. Valakari insists Essel will get a clean slate from which to impress him once he’s back for training in Perth. He explained: “Aaron played through the summer so he’s on holiday now. “Then he will come back here in December and we will see where we are — he had some injuries so he didn’t get into a full rhythm. “It’s good, then, that he can go away and get refreshed a bit. “Then we will see where he is — and everything starts again from zero. “I saw he scored one wonder goal but it’s a shame he didn’t get a long run of games; something always came up.”
