JUST CAN’T WAITTO REJOIN EUROS Fraser cut his teeth on the Europa League stage now he wants more
Marcus Fraser would love another crack at European football with St Mirren after making his professional debut on the continental stage.
The big stopper was thrown into the Europa League spotlight 12-and-a-half years ago by Neil Lennon when he was a teenager at Celtic, pictured right.
Fraser was just 17 when he replaced Glenn Loovens at halftime of the Hoops’ 3-1 victory over French cracks Rennes in Glasgow’s east end.
It was a major milestone for the dependable defender who has gone on to enjoy a successful career in Scottish football – closing in on almost 400 appearances.
The Buddies resume their push for Europe tomorrow lunchtime when title hopefuls Rangers rock up at the SMiSA Stadium.
Points are the priority for both teams with Fraser determined to go the distance in the Euro race fuelled by magic memories of the past.
The 29-year-old said: “I’d been out warming up when I got told to come in so I didn’t really have much time to think about it. It was just as case of out onto the pitch and off you go. I remember my first touch.
“The ball came to me and I just hit a clearance.
“The ball flew right into the stand and the crowd cheered. I remember thinking, ‘Ach, that’s not bad for putting a ball into the stand!’
“That’s the one thing I remember clearly, the rest is a bit of a blur. It was good, though, that I didn’t have much time to think about it.
“At that age, you don’t really have any fear or negative thoughts. It’s only now you look back and think, ‘Okay, that was quite a big moment’.
“I was only 17 at the time but at that time, you just think, ‘Let’s have it!’
“I hadn’t even really considered getting on the pitch