Anderson normally plays on the right or in central defence, and Owen added, “He has a fine future.”

Meanwhile, as 0-0 draws go, it was one of the better ones, yesterday’s Dunfermline-St Johnstone clash being a decent advert for Division One.

And, while the Pars shaded it on territorial advantage, Saints’ Paul Sheerin will have nightmares about his miss just two minutes from time.

Just how he managed to put the ball over a gaping goal from only six yards out only he will know.

Dunfermline team boss Stephen Kenny was “disappointed” at not winning what he described as “a hard-fought committed game.”

Saints’ manager Owen Coyle summed up Sheerin’s howler as a “magnificent chance", adding, “The whole stadium thought it would be a goal.”

Owen went on, “Our fitness, spirit, enthusiasm and work-rate were there, that’s now two shut-outs in a row and, although we didn’t score, we need to keep believing we can do the business in the last third of the park.”

Owen was pleased with the contribution of new loan signings Rocco Quinn in midfield and Kenny Deuchar up front and Quinn was “fairly happy” with his first appearance in a Saints shirt after signing on loan from Celtic late on Friday afternoon.

The draw keeps both sides in the bottom half of the table but, on this evidence, better times lie ahead.