I can’t wait to rejoin the Euro

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before the game. Obviously there was a lot of injuries at that time so if I’d really thought about it, I should have known that if a defender had got injured during the match, it would be one of us young lads getting thrown on.

“It was brilliant for me to get the nod at 17 when the manager could have rejigged it and put a midfielder back there but he obviously saw something in me and decided to fling me in.

“I remember driving home with the music on full blast feeling on top of the world.

“But I think I made a league appearance a year later so it just shows you when the manager thinks you are ready or you need more time on the training pitch or there are other people ahead of you.

“I’m just grateful for having had the opportunity. I’m still only 29 so I’ve got a few years left as a footballer yet.

“But I know that winning things and opportunities like we have this season doesn’t come around often.You can’t that that for granted.

“When you get an opportunity to push for Europe, you have to realise that these chances don’t come around every single season and grasp it.

“That’s what I’m hoping to do now during these last five games.

“I can believe it [Saints being in this position] because I see every day the hard work that gets put into it by the staff and players. Everyone is together.

“If you don’t work hard, you will probably fall by the wayside. Training is a good standard and that’s what drives the success.”

Saints’last foray into Europe came 37 years ago following their Scottish Cup triumph over Dundee United at Hampden.

Fraser acknowledged:“It’s brilliant to hear about the stuff from the past and you think,‘can I be a part of that or better that as a team?’

“We do believe that in-house and we need to go and do it now. We have a big five games coming up, there are other teams in the mix, but we know what we need to do.”

Fifth-placed Saints are just two points clear of shock troops Dundee who face Celtic at Dens Park after the SMiSA showdown in what could be a key day in both the race for the championship and Europe.

Fraser knows Rangers will come out all guns blazing as they attempt to put the pressure on the Hoops by drawing level on points at the top before they kick-off on Tayside.

He added:“They are good, experienced players who know how to win games because they are used to winning. It’s up to us to find the right balance between trying to win the game and keeping the door shut at the back.

“It’s going to be a hard game but we know what we are good at and we’re back at home where are form this season has been good.”