Hearts-bound star in megaphone serenade after clinching title glory as he and Jambos loanee savour promotion

St Johnstone serenaded Josh McPake with a megaphone tribute ahead of his upcoming Hearts move - as the winger and a Jambos loanee help them clinch the Scottish Championship title.

Simo Valakari’s side are returning to the Premiership as champions, a year on from their relegation, after defeating Dunfermline Athletic 2-0 at East End Park on Tuesday night. Reece McAlear and Ruari Paton goals in the second half sealed a crowning moment for the Perthshire Saints, with McPake again starting out wide, where his performances have caught Hearts attention.

He has already signed a pre-contract to join the Jambos in the summer after a standout term with 19 goals and four assists ahead of his final St Johnstone home match on Friday against Raith Rovers. At full-time in Fife, teammate Taylor Steven had a megaphone in hand, and started a chant in McPake’s name to the tune of Abba’s Dancing Queen. It sparked a packed away end rendition of the tune as players bounced around, with McPake at the centre of celebrations.

What Hearts player has helped St Johnstone win the league?

Also part of the celebrations was Adam Forrester, who has spent most of the term in Perth on a co-operation loan agreement from Hearts, playing 18 times for St Johnstone. Both McPake and Forrester will be in Gorgie for pre-season, where Hearts will hope title joy of their own is in hand, going into their final five matches against top six opponents top of the Premiership by a point. They face Hibs this Sunday at Easter Road in the latest Edinburgh derby.

”When we got our first chance to win the league we took it,” said St Johnstone manager Valakari. “No mercy. We weren’t going to wait until our second chance and that tells you everything about the men­tal­ity of this team. You didn’t see nerves. It doesn’t mat­ter who we play, where we go, or what the cir­cum­stances are – we play our way. Every­body knows how dif­fi­cult it is to win this league and tonight was a high-pres­sure envir­on­ment.

“I’m so proud of these boys and so happy for our fans. They have been sup­port­ing us all sea­son and it was fant­astic to win in front of so many of them. Their noise and pas­sion pushed us over the line. I have to give big thanks to my staff. They have worked so hard to make this sea­son look like it has.

St Johnstone on winning the league

“Gus MacPh­er­son, our sport­ing dir­ector, has been a big influ­ence in build­ing up this team. He knew what would be needed in the Cham­pi­on­ship. And our own­ers. I have needed their back­ing. We’ve all been fol­low­ing the same path and the same dream. I’m so happy for every­one. Let’s now make it a big car­ni­val on Fri­day. We’ve got a couple of days to plan something spe­cial.”

Ex Hearts midfielder Jason Holt has played captain at Saints this season and said of the triumph: “It feels amazing. There’s been so much hard work. I think the club knew it had to rebuild in the summer. It makes it all worth it this. It’s different class. It means so much. To get rewarded means the world.”

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