Conway eager to make most of homecoming
NEW McDiarmid Park recruit Craig Conway admits he is “buzzing to get started” as St Johnstone travel to Dundee United today for their first game of the Scottish Premiership season.
The one time Terrors winger is expected to feature against his former club after penning a one-year deal with Callum Davidson’s Saints yesterday.
Conway faced a summer of uncertainty after being released from Salford City in England’s League Two.
But ahead of travelling to his old stomping ground on Tannadice Street today, the Scotland international told of his delight after striking a deal in Perth.
“It’s been a mad few months for me but I’m delighted to be here,” he said. “I think it’s been about 10 years since I last lived in Scotland and I actually stayed in Perth while I was playing for Dundee Utd, so it’s great to be back.
“The first game of the season will be against my old club and I just knew that would happen! I’m looking forward to it if I’m involved although it will be a little strange going back there!”
Conway moves back to Scotland’s top flight after enjoying spells down south with the likes of Blackburn Rovers, Cardiff City and Brighton & Hove Albion.
The 35-year-old may be approaching the tail end of his footballing career, but he reckons his experience can help a youthful Saints squad.
He continued: “I’ve been lucky enough to play a lot of games for some big clubs and I think that I bring that experience in to help what is a young and talented squad here.
“From what I’ve seen in training there’s a lot of quality here and hopefully I can help add to that. I’m feeling fit and I’ve been training with my previous club Salford up until about four weeks ago as well, so I’m raring to go.
“I always go on my gut feeling and having spoken to the manager a lot I got a really good vibe. I was really happy with the things he was saying about the club, his vision moving forward and how he saw me fitting into that.
“It’s great to be a part of it and I’m just looking forward to getting out there on the pitch and getting the new season started.”
Micky Mellon admits he will fulfil a boyhood dream when he takes charge of his first Dundee United match.
While everyone in Scottish football is relishing the return to competitive action after a fourand-a-half month shutdown, Mellon has been waiting several decades to sample the game in his native country.
The Paisley-born manager previously spent his entire career in England, so today’s Premiership encounter against St Johnstone will be a particularly special occasion.
“Even though I am 48, I am doing what a 15-year-old boy wanted to do,” he said. “I’m now getting the opportunity to do that. So it’s all fantastic for me. I’m loving every minute of it, I am enjoying being back home. Because this is home for me.
“I’m back home, I’m operating in the stadiums and against the teams that I watched as a 15-year-old boy before I left and had to go to England at 16. So it’s great, all very fresh to me.
“I am enjoying being back in Scotland, everybody understands me first time. I don’t have to adjust my accent.
“I have been told by my missus that I have become very, very Scottish again. What that means, I don’t know, but she will have to get used to it.”