Paton in no rush to think of Russia
PAUL PATON is more concerned with signing on this summer than a date in Russia with Northern Ireland.
The St Johnstone midfielder is in Michael O’Neill’s squad for next month’s World Cup play-off against Switzerland.
Northern Ireland coach Jimmy Nicholl ran the rule over Paton on Tuesday night as Saints fought out a goalless draw with Ross County.
Paton, 30, has been capped five times for the birthplace of his father since his debut in a 1-0 loss to Uruguay three years ago.
But he said: “I haven’t even thought about the World Cup next summer. I’m keeping my feet on the ground.
“If I’m doing well and get the opportunity to go to the World Cup that would be great but I’m more realistic. I’m out of contract at the end of the season. I can’t be thinking of going to a World Cup when I might not even have a job.
“The worry is for me is playing hard every week and flying into tackles and I might not even have a contract next year. That’s my No.1 priority, to either get a new deal here or start looking elsewhere.
“We’ll see what happens against Switzerland.
“It’s such a massive game but I have matches for my club before then and that’s where my concentration lies.
“I have to get through them injury free and I have to get starts. I didn’t start the previous two games and was very disappointed as I felt I was having a good season.
“Hopefully I showed enough against Ross County to play on Saturday at Partick Thistle.
“That is my only focus, my bread and butter. If I’m not playing for my club I won’t be playing for Northern Ireland.”