THAT HAS ME RIGHT UP FOR THE CUP Middleton wants in on silverware action
Glenn Middleton admits he was inspired by watching his St Johnstone team-mates lift the League Cup on Sunday.
The winger was not able to be included in the squad having already played in the competition for parent club Rangers this season.
But he was at Hampden to soak in the celebrations and would now love to play a starring role for the Perth side in the Scottish Cup.
The tournament was this week given the green light to continue following a temporary suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic. Saints travel to Tayside rivals Dundee in round three at the beginning of next month. Middleton said: “It’s not nice to miss out on a cup final. But it was obviously reasons outwith my control.
“It was a brilliant day for the club and all of the boys enjoyed it. They deserved the win as well.
“I was there and you could see how much it meant to everyone. Especially the senior ones like Liam Craig. Those are the days you work for. I was back a little bit from the celebrations, taking it all in and watching them.
“You could really see that it did genuinely mean a lot - and that was brilliant to see.
“It’s inspired me because I’m desperate for that sort of thing and to be a part of it one day.
“Anything can happen in cup football. Against Dundee, as long as we do what we do well, I’m sure we can progress.”
Middleton helped Saints recover from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Hamilton on Wednesday night.
He was thrown into the action alongside Michael O’Halloran in the second half and was thrilled when striker Guy Melamed levelled the game late in the day.
“Regardless if you get five minutes, 10 minutes or whatever, you need to do something and get the manager’s trust,” Middleton said.
“I was saying to Liam Gordon that it was a brilliant ball and causes mayhem for the defence.
“Guy’s first touch was unbelievable and the finish just as good. It was a big moment for us. It’s a brilliant group of lads. I saw that in training from day one.
“Everyone is desperate to win and that is the same in five-a-side games in training. The level of competitiveness is right up there.”
Saints now welcome Hibs to McDiarmid Park tomorrow, a club Middleton has also spent time on loan at.
He added: “I’m desperate to play football. It’s what you train every day for. I need to keep doing the right things.”