CHERRIES midfielder Matt Butcher admitted football’s shutdown due to coronavirus “couldn’t have come at a worse time” for him.

Butcher, who has been plagued with hip and knee problems in recent seasons, penned a loan deal to join Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone until the end of the season.

He made seven appearances for the Perthshire outfit before the game was halted due to COVID-19.

“The shutdown couldn’t have happened at a worse time, to be honest,” Butcher told the Courier.

“I’d been out for so long, got back and things were going great for me and for the team.

“Looking back, things were probably going too well!”

He added: “I was feeling the best I’ve done for years.

“It took a few games to get sharp again but I was hitting what I think I’m capable of when the whole thing was closed down.

“But you just have to be philosophical about it. There are people in far worse positions than I am or we are as footballers.

“You have to think about people getting ill and dying then you realise that there are more important things.

“From my perspective, I got out to a club I enjoyed and played some games so it was a good few months regardless of what happens with the rest of the season now.”