The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Defender’s exploits spur on Saint
Tartan Army foot soldier Liam Gordon has hailed S c o t l a n d ’s Euro heroes. And the St Johnstone defender reckons ending the long wait to reach the finals of a major championship will provide a massive boost on the home front.
Gordon, 24, whose immediate priority is beating Pe t e r h e a d to advance to the last 16 of the Betfred Cup, was cheering on from the sofa as Steve Clarke’s spot-kick specialists saw off Serbia.
He was thrilled to see Motherwell pair Declan Gallagher, 29, and Steven O’Donnell, 28, in starring roles alongside big-name players from south of the border.
“It definitely gives everyone a lift,” admitted Gordon, who has watched one-time Celtic youth Gallagher claim Scotland honours after spells with Clyde, Dundee and Livingston before joining the Fir Park club last summer.
“We have said for years we have had a good Scotland team,” he said.
“Out of the back five against Serbia, two are playing for Motherwell. They are a good club, but you are comparing them to players from Liverpool, Arsenal and Man United.
“It just shows you the Scottish game is in a good place right now.
“I think Gallagher has been outstanding for us. I have played against him many a time and it is really good to see him doing so well. He is a great example for guys like myself.
“It shows that hard work and determination can go a long way. He is somewhere I am striving to be.”
Gordon missed out on youth level call-ups, but he admits Gallagher’s impact on the international stage will spur on fellow Premiership players.
The one-time Hearts kid said: “I was close to international squads when I was younger, but it was never a thing I dwelled on.
“I just focused on progressing at club level to make my way in the game, but everyone wants to play for their country, I’m not going to deny that. Never say never.”
Gordon is part of a Perth backline which has notched three clean sheets on the spin, including the midweek 0-0 Betfred Cup 0-0 d r aw, wh i c h s aw Tayside rivals Dundee United claim a shootout bonus point.
He said: “After the game we were doing the arithmetic and wondering if it was a win, a draw or whatever that we needed against Peterhead.
“Regardless of a draw being enough, we are still going there for three points. It’s in our hands with one game to go. You would take that at the start of the group.”
Gordon was farmed out to Peterhead three years ago and signed off in a 5-1 League One play-off loss to Forfar, but he admits a dozen games under Blue To o n manager Jim Mc I n a l l y helped him progress at McDiarmid.
“Peterhead were struggling at the wrong end of the table and I was having problems with my knee at the time,” he recalled.
“I was playing through a wee bit of discomfort. It wasn’t ideal, but I have nothing but good to say about Peterhead. It was a really well-run club with a lot of really nice people.
“At the time of the loan I had a taste of first-team football and had done quite well. I played for Saints at Aberdeen and Jim McInally was at that game.
“He later said he was desperate to try to get me.
“I was kind of in and out at Saints and, at that age, I just wanted to go and play football.
“It was a good learning experience.
“Jim had a really good career. It was great having someone like him pass his knowledge onto me. He helped me massively.”
Saints have never played a competitive match at Balmoor – and Gordon has warned his teammates it won’t be easy.
“It will be a tough game,” he cautioned.
“It is a big pitch and we can use that to our advantage. It was very well looked after when I was there. The groundsman did a great job.
“There has been a lot of heavy rain but it is near the sea and drains well. So hopefully it is a decent surface for us to get down and play.”