Saints out to get more Europa League action

St johnstone: Tam Scobbie was a key man in Saints’ all-too-brief European campaign last year – this year he would like to go a little further

There’s a big chunk of the season Tam Scobbie would rather forget, but the Europa League campaign certainly isn’t part of it.

The St Johnstone defender was one of the Perth side’s main men as they advanced through one round of the competition and came very close to progressing even further.

But a training ground injury not long after those memorable late summer nights robbed the penalty hero against FC Luzern of several months of football.

He’s obviously hoping the long layoffs are a thing of the past but, now that he’s back to fitness and form, Scobbie is determined to sample a repeat dose of European football.

And a win over third-placed Inverness Caledonian Thistle today would be a big step towards that.

Scobbie said: “I want to play in Europe again. All the guys will say the same.

“For a club like St Johnstone to get there four years in a row would be a massive achievement.

“They were great occasions at McDiarmid and we want to experience more of them.

“We’re in front of Dundee United now and we want to stay there.

“All we can do is win as many as we can and if it ends up that’s not good enough to get there, so be it.

“At the very least we’ll be going into next season in a positive frame of mind.

“United and Inverness have been in third and fourth for most of the season and we’re looking to put pressure on them. They have been up there all season so have most to lose.”

Scobbie agreed a new two-year contract recently, and he intends to reward the club’s faith in him.

“It’s been a long time getting the contract sorted but I’m happy that it got done,” he said.

“Now we’re looking forward to the possibility of getting into Europe again and things are looking good for the future with lot of other boys having signed up already.

“It wasn’t on my mind. Even when I was coming back from my injury the manager had told me they were looking to get a new deal sorted with me.

“Once I got back we put the wheels in motion and it was just a matter of time before it got completed.

“The club have been great. I’ve had two serious injuries since I’ve been here, so I haven’t managed to get a full season under my belt.

“I’ll go into this close season in good health hopefully, work hard in preseason and then kick on after that.

“The injuries haven’t changed the way I play the game or view the game. I know I’m fit and strong. The rehab has been excellent.”

John Hughes is a former manager of Scobbie’s at Falkirk, and the versatile defender knows better than most that his old boss won’t allow Caley Thistle to be distracted by the prospect of a Scottish Cup final.

“I know what he is like,” Scobbie pointed out. “When I was at Falkirk and looking forward to the cup final he would be warning the lads that places were up for grabs. There was no let-up.

“He put you under pressure to perform and it will be the same now at Inverness.

“It was always hanging over your head. We know Yogi will be at them to make it a hard game for us and we have to handle that.

“Inverness have been fantastic all season and I don’t see them letting up any time soon.”

I want to play in Europe again. All the guys will say the same. For a club like St Johnstone to get there four years in a row would be a massive achievement. TAM SCOBBIE

Picture: SNS Group. Tam Scobbie is dreaming of getting to play more European football this season.