Footballers have been known to occupy their free time spending a spare hour or three immersed with their favourite games console.
However, that particular pastime does not enter into the equation for St Johnstone’s Joe Shaughnessy who is studying for a maths degree.
The 23-year-old Irishman has just completed the first phase of the Open University course that should take him up to six years to finish.
That though is something Shaughnessy is more than happy to commit to as he prepares for this afternoon’s visit to his former club Aberdeen.
He said: “I am doing an Open Uni maths course and I have just finished the first module.
“When I left Ireland and came over to Aberdeen, my parents always told me to keep up my education.
“So I did Highers at evening classes there.
“But last season I was just sitting around watching TV in the evenings and wasn’t really doing anything.
“I’m one of the few lads who don’t sit at the PlayStation, in fact I don’t have any games console at all.
“So I just thought I might as well do something that would benefit me and keep my brain working.
“I was always good at maths at school and enjoyed it.
“Hopefully by the end of the course, I will have a maths degree.
“It will probably take me about six years.
“I’m not sure what I’ll do when I get it but it will be good to have.”
Shaughnessy spent six years with the Dons and he admits he is looking forward to going back to Pittodrie today.
However, he insists he has no regrets over making the move to Saints and is just relishing playing regular first-team football.
He said: “It will be special going back for the first time.
“I was there for six years so it will be good to go there and see a few familiar faces again.
“I don’t think I have ever played against a former team before so I am looking forward to it.
“The club was good for me. I came over when I was 17 and came up through the youth team.
“They don’t have a lot of money so if you do well in the youth team you will get a chance.
“I felt I did really well and then got involved with the first team.
“It was just over the last year or so that I didn’t play as much as I wanted to.
“Last season was a bit frustrating so I felt I needed a fresh start.
“I am really enjoying everything about St Johnstone.
“It is an easy squad to settle into. I have played every game so far and it is nice to play games on a Saturday again as I had forgotten what that felt like.”
Aberdeen may be top of the table but St Johnstone will travel north in buoyant frame of mind after winning their last two games against Rangers in the League Cup and Dundee United in the Premiership last Saturday.
Shaughnessy added: “It is good to go into this game on the back of two wins in a row.
“Hopefully we can carry on and get another result.
“When Aberdeen are doing well they get big crowds and it is a good place to play when that happens as it has the last couple of seasons.
“But we definitely want to keep our run going. We have played well in the last couple of games so it would be nice to get another result up there.”