The text had been brief, although the message was still made clear.

It had been delivered not long after Gregory Tade had packed himself up and made for Romania, the erstwhile St Johnstone striker having resolved to make sure Nigel Hasselbaink would not be left alone in Perth even if Tade was going to be leaving him behind. The Frenchman is a big personality and had come to figure largely as a friend, confidante, team-mate and even a mode of transportation for the more reticent Hasselbaink – duties he sought to transfer to someone else before finalising a move to CFR Cluj.

He had placed responsibility in the hands of Tommy Wright, a reliable goalkeeper back in the day but also a manager who was equally on the ball as to the position that Hasselbaink might be left in without Tade to chum around with. The Dutch forward has been a popular – if frustrating – player at the club, but one without a natural inclination to become a part of the group; he was the wee guy with the big pal who looked after him and that was that.

Wright knew that and has taken steps to ensure his young forward has not become a lost boy – Paddy Cregg has been charged with driving Hasselbaink to and from training – although he is hopeful that the 22-year-old will be encouraged to come out of his shell a little in the absence of Tade. The St Johnstone manager was given an indication of that with the manner in which Hasselbaink took to teasing Rosenborg during the first leg of a Europa League second round qualifying tie last week.

"I had a wee chat with him first day back and told him I wanted him to be in my team," said Wright, who yesterday completed the signing of midfielder Scott Brown from Bradford City on a one-year contract. "I know he is difficult to play against and he can hurt teams; he gets defenders on the back foot and can create havoc. You could see Rosenborg were wary of him.

"Maybe in a way losing his pal Gregory has even helped Nigel. The lads all like him but maybe he is more part of the group now. After he signed for Cluj, Gregory sent me a text saying 'make sure you look after my pal Nigel.' I was a bit worried how Nigel would react to his mate leaving for Romania – at times you'd have thought they were joined at the hip. Nigel doesn't drive so Paddy Cregg has been giving him lifts in and out. He's taken Nigel under his wing."

The Dutchman will be in need of a lift to the airport if St Johnstone are able to preserve their advantage on Thursday when Rosenborg arrive for the second leg of their Europa League tie. The Perth side have not been idle, contesting a friendly with rivals Dundee on Sunday – with former Aberdeen midfielder Barry Nicholson playing for St Johnstone as a trialist – and Wright is unafraid by the visit of the Norwegians. "We can expect some sort of backlash but they won't be able to paper over the cracks we detected. I think those weaknesses will still be there," he added.

Wright also intends to speak to Murray Davidson ahead of the tie, with the midfielder still to find a club despite last season resisting an offer to remain at St Johnstone. The Scotland internationalist had sought a move to England but may now be convinced to return to McDiarmid Park. "Murray and his advisors know exactly what I think of Murray and we have had several conversations with them since the end of last season," said Wright.

The Northern Irishman has also been spoken to by Stevie May, the young striker who is intent on establishing himself in the first-team this year following loan moves to Alloa Athletic and Hamilton Academical in the past two seasons. "I want to do everything I can to get into that team," said May, who scored in the 1-1 draw with Dundee. "I want to make my presence felt."