Stevie G was right to Cherry-pick my mentor Jermain
St Johnstone loan star Matt Butcher wasn’t surprised that Rangers tied-up Jermain Defoe for another year.
He reckons Rangers boss Steven Gerrard couldn’t ask for a better role model to mould his younger players.
A calf injury to veteran striker Defoe will prevent the farmed- out Bournemouth team- mates facing each other at McDiarmid Park.
But Butcher, 22, is hoping to hook- up with his 37-year-old Cherries mentor when the dust settles.
Defoe’s stay will become permanent at the end of the season after he signed a one-year pre-contract deal.
Butcher said: “I saw a lot of Jermain at Bournemouth in training and at games.
“His track record is quality. He’s scored goals wherever he’s been so it’s good for Saints that he’s not playing this weekend.
“I can’t speak highly enough of him. Jermain was brilliant to the young players at Bournemouth.
“He was always telling us what to improve on and relating things we were doing to times in his career.
“He was approachable and a big help to the players making their way up.
“He’s in great shape and is someone who looks after himself really well.
“He was always striving to get better and that was something he passed on to everyone at the club.
“When you have a player of his quality, who has done so much in the game, you learn from him and pick things up.
“I am sure he is having a positive impact on the other players at Rangers too.
“Even when he’s not playing Jermain will be an influence around the club so it ’s no surprise Rangers wanted to keep him.”
Butcher’s progress down south was hampered by hip and knee injuries.
His start in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Ross County was his first for three years.
But Butcher jumped at the chance to kickstart his career in Scotland. And the midfielder admits back-toback clashes with Rangers and Celtic has stirred attention back home.
He said: “These games have that extra bit for people from the outside to look at.
“I have already had friends and family texting me about the TV clash with Rangers.
“It’s a major thing. But I’m just delighted to be involved in a first team again.
“I am here to play as much as possible and have the biggest impact I can.
“In the past few weeks we have been the ones controlling games.
“You’d imagine against Rangers that will be more difficult to do. So it might be more about keeping your shape and choosing when to go forward.”
After posting just four losses in their last 17 games, Butcher can’t fathom out why Tommy Wright’s side was toiling in the basement only three months ago.
Now they’re chasing a top-six finish.
He said: “Our confidence is high, the belief is there and we have been working hard on a few things.
“You can see this is a team that have come together in the last few months.
“I can’t believe that we were bottom of the league for so long this season, from what I’ve seen.
“But things have clicked now, the manager has brought in a lot of young players and he has given them their chance.”
Butcher had runs from the bench against Hearts and Motherwell but seized the chance to impress with a start in Dingwall.
He said: “I’ve settled okay. Hopefully now I can start influencing games.”