Let’s hope Saints can waddle into final McBreen will be cheering club on

He remains the last St Johnstone player to score at Hampden.

Daniel McBreen smiles. But he would be delighted if that record was taken away from him at the national stadium this weekend.

His header four minutes into extra time had the Perth club in dreamland and leading against Rangers in the 2008 Scottish Cup semi-final.

The wizardry of Paul Sheerin’s left boot provided the delivery. McBreen the provided a bizarre waddling celebration!

There was reason to believe that this was going to be a momentous day. Alas, it wasn’t. The game was levelled before Saints eventually bowed out of the competition on spot-kicks.

McBreen, who only made a handful of appearances for the club, remembers the occasion well and still wishes his finish was enough to secure a ticket to the final.

“It was some ball, by the way,” he said of Sheerin’s assist. “I thought he was going to cross it first time. I remember it clearly.

“I held the ball up and then needed to get back in the middle as quick as possible. His touch gave me enough time to get round the back.

“It was on a plate for me, all I had to do was nod it down into the corner. I still don’t know how he found me.

“I actually remember the celebration. I squatted down and waddled like a duck.

“My mate was watching live back in Australia and his nickname was The Duck. I said if I was to score I’d give him a little celebration.

“It wasn’t too good for the knee and I probably shouldn’t have been doing that. It was just unlucky we couldn’t hold out.”

That semi-final actually represented McBreen’s first game back from a serious knee injury and one he required surgery on.

“I had been at Scunthorpe,” McBreen recalled. “A new manager came in and we didn’t really hit it off.

“Derek McInnes offered me the chance to come up and I thought it was a great opportunity. I’d played in Scotland before and really liked it.

“I had a quick chat with Derek and got in the car straight away to head up.

“But, unfortunately, in the first game I did my knee. I ended up having knee surgery and was out for three months.

“The semi-final was my first game back. I wasn’t match fit and it was touch and go whether I should be involved.

“I said to just throw me on the bench and we’ll see how it goes. It almost worked out for us.

“Against a team like Rangers, you know they are always going to be dangerous. They scored and we were up against it.

“I remember the crowd being awesome. I was actually the next penalty taker but didn’t get the opportunity.

“It was a great day, one that I didn’t think I was going to be involved in. To be involved and get on the scoresheet was a good occasion.”

While only with the Saints for a short period of time, McBreen bought in to the community and family side of the club.

“The community was great and they get behind you,” he told the PA. “The players need to enjoy the moment this weekend.

“I’ve played in a couple of occasions like this and sometimes the day can get past you if you don’t step back and take it in.

“Hopefully the guys can do well for the club and put in a great performance.”

Unlike McBreen’s semi-final memories, where 26,000 fans were present, Saints’ tussle with Hibs on Saturday will be played out in front of an empty stadium due to coronavirus restrictions.

“It hasn’t been as bad with us,” said McBreen, who is now head youth coach with Newcastle Jets in Australia. “We went to lockdown straight away, although finished last season with no fans.

“We have fans back in the game now and, where I am, it’s been a relatively normal life for the past five or six months.

“Capacity of crowd is probably at 50 or 25 per cent depending on the stadiums and where you are in the country.

“You’ve really got to rely on your team-mates to motivate you with no fans. You need to find the inspiration in each other.

“Sometimes it can be a hindrance having a huge crowd there, especially if the majority are against you. But sometimes it lifts you. Everyone is different.”

One player who shared the park with McBreen 13 years ago was Liam Craig. The legendary midfielder could well line-up for Saints on Saturday.

McBreen said: “Liam was a true professional. He was a younger lad when I played with him but a top lad and true professional.

“It’s no surprise for me that he is still playing now with the attitude he had. I’m sure he’ll use his experience to help the younger boys.”

And how fitting it would be if Craig was indeed the man to take the title of last man to score at Hampden from McBreen.

“Let’s hope someone breaks that record in this game,” he smiled.

“It’s nice for me but I hope someone scores this weekend and they get the win as well.”