Former Northampton Town and Stoke City winger Liam McCarron could earn a return to top-flight football after being handed a trial with Scottish Premiership side St Johnstone.
The 25-year-old is a free agent after leaving National League side Boston United at the end of the 2025/26 campaign, bringing a short spell in Lincolnshire to a close.
McCarron had been with Northampton during the 2024/25 season, making 16 league appearances and scoring once for the Cobblers. His campaign was disrupted by injury in the second half of the season, and he moved on at the end of the campaign before later resurfacing with Boston.
He joined the Pilgrims in February on a short-term deal running until the end of the season, with the Pilgrims adding him as a left-sided attacking option. However, that move proved brief, with McCarron making just two appearances before being released.
The winger is now understood to be heading to Perth this week, where he will look to impress St Johnstone head coach Simo Valakari. A successful trial would give him the chance to earn a contract in the Scottish Premiership and rebuild after a stop-start spell across the past two seasons.
Before his time at Northampton, McCarron had been on the books at Stoke City after leaving Leeds United. His spell with the Potters also included a loan move to Port Vale, adding further Football League experience before his switch to Sixfields.
McCarron began his career with Carlisle United, coming through the club’s academy and making his senior debut as a teenager. He made 20 first-team appearances for the Cumbrian side during the 2018/19 season, form which earned him a move to Leeds United in 2019.
His time at Elland Road included one Premier League appearance, but his next opportunity to play top-flight football could now come in Scotland. St Johnstone are preparing for the new Scottish Premiership campaign, and McCarron will hope his trial at McDiarmid Park leads to a longer-term deal.
McCarron’s immediate future now rests on whether he can do enough this week to convince Valakari and his coaching staff.
Opportunity for McCarron to shine
This could be an interesting move for McCarron. The Scottish league is a lot like the top four English divisions in one go. Celtic and Rangers are Premier League, perhaps Hearts and Aberdeen are Championship, but by the time you get to St Johnstone, you could argue they’re League Two quality.
That presents a great opportunity for players. The likes of Dan Nlundulu, for instance, have gone north of the border after flopping in the EFL and challenged for trophies. McCArron could easily do the same.
