Bell, the former Kilmarnock, Rangers and Dundee United keeper, who will be number two to Zander Clark, told St Johnstone TV that he wants to remain firmly inside that top six.

"The manager spoke well when he spoke to me on the phone and made me feel wanted," Bell said.

"It is a great club and one that is trying to push forward and hopefully we can get into that top-six this season and it would be successful for us.

"St Johnstone have had a good season so far but we are only in February so there is a lot of football to be played.

"They are in a great position but obviously we have got some tough games coming up.

"We just need to focus on the next six, seven games as a block and hopefully we can get results together and have a real good push for the last five or six games before the split and hopefully we can be in that top six."

Scotland cap Bell hopes his presence helps Clark to find more improvement to the benefit of the team.

He said: "Hopefully I can push Zander to another level and compete with him.

"I want to play football but I understand that Zander is one of the top keepers so it is up to me to push him and hopefully that can bring the best for the team."

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