Graham Cummins has revealed he came close to becoming a St Johnstone player a few years ago.
And, even though he’s taken a circuitous route to eventually make it to Perth, the Irishman couldn’t be happier that he got there in the end.
Cummins, who is back in the Saints squad for today’s clash with Partick Thistle after a seven-week lay-off with a hamstring injury, signed a contract extension a couple of weeks ago.
“It has gone really well for me since I came here, apart from the injury obviously,” he said.
“I actually could have been here five or six years ago because I came on trial when Derek McInnes was the manager.
“I played in a reserve game against Falkirk and scored a goal, so he wanted to speak to me about staying.
“But at the time I was at university doing my business management degree so had to decide whether to leave than and try to make it here.
“I decided at the time that I was best staying at university.
“But when the club expressed an interest last season I knew a wee bit about the place because I’d already been up and had a look around.
“I came back up and spent two days here earlier this year to meet the lads.
“So it was an easy decision to make and it’s one I’m glad I did. It was the right time for me to come here.”
Manager Tommy Wright’s belief in him and the best dressing room atmosphere he’s ever known were two of the main reasons Cummins wanted to extend his stay at McDiarmid Park.
“I have played more games than I expected to and even when I wasn’t scoring the manager stuck by me,” he said.
“I have never had someone show that much faith in me before and that has been huge.
“In the past when I was in England I was going out on the pitch worrying that I’d be taken off or knowing that if I didn’t score then I was out of the team again.
“But being here has given me so much confidence back again, I feel like I did when I was back at Cork.
“It has been a brilliant move for me, especially coming into this dressing-room.
“This is the best I’ve ever experienced, even back home in Ireland.
“Most dressing-rooms you have people saying things behind each other’s backs but there’s none of that here at all.
“Everyone just comes in, they enjoy working hard and being together.”
Cummins added: “The boys told me at the start that if they’re mocking me then that means they like you which is just as well because I do get a fair bit off them!
“They were all happy for me getting my new contract, which is obviously unusual when you are out injured.
“I haven’t played since I signed it but I am on a high about getting my future sorted and I just want to get playing now.
“The club and the manager have showed great faith in me, now I just want to pay everyone back.
“There was talk of other interest but that wasn’t anything I took seriously because I’d already spoken to the gaffer.”
Cummins is itching to get back on the pitch but he knows that there would be no sense in pushing too fast too soon.
He said: “I’ve been back training so I’m ready to play if the manager needs me, although I’ve had seven weeks out so I won’t be as sharp as I was before the injury.
“Hopefully I’ll get into the squad and maybe play some part.
“It has seemed like a long time because everything was going really well before the injury so it was frustrating.
“I could have rushed back for last weekend but we decided to give me an extra week.
“The pitches are heavy at this time of year so the last thing you want to do is hurry back and then do it again.
“It would be different if the team was in a bad position then you’d be more inclined to take risks but with the lads doing really well there was no point.
“Everyone agreed it was the best thing to do, it’s a long season so I want to be back for the rest of the campaign.
“We have a lot of games coming up so I’ll hopefully play my part.”