Given his own career path, St Johnstone’s Steven MacLean would fully understand if Stevie May moved to England before the transfer window shuts.
But selfishly, he is keeping his fingers crossed his strike partner goes nowhere.
MacLean was about May’s age when he embarked on a successful rise up the English leagues, which started at Scunthorpe United and took in Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff City, Plymouth Argyle, Oxford United, Yeovil Town and Cheltenham Town.
So he is a good advert for taking a chance down south.
However, MacLean can see his combination with May up front blossoming over the months ahead at McDiarmid Park, and he would be disappointed to see that cut short before it has reached its full potential.
MacLean is not surprised that Peterborough United have targeted May over the last couple of weeks.
He said: “Stevie has been different class and we are getting used to each other’s style of play. The partnership is working well and long may it continue. Hopefully, we can keep hold of him.
“He can hold it up, he is quick, he’s strong and he scores goals. He has a bit of everything about him.
“He is an all-round player and he works really hard at his game. Stevie takes everything in. You can see he is going to be a top player.
“We all want him to stay but this is football. You don’t know what is going to happen. If something comes up and it is right for him it could be hard for him to knock back.
“I was 20 or 21 when I went on loan to Scunthorpe. I served my apprenticeship, going through League Two, League One and then the Championship.”
MacLean would envisage May thriving in League One, should the Peterborough move be revived. And he does not believe he would stop there.
“Stevie has gone away and worked in the gym while he was on loan but you can see he has worked on his game as well,” he said. “You get bigger and stronger playing games in the lower divisions up here.
“You can tell he has had that little bit of first-team experience and he has already shown he can handle the Scottish Premiership and Europe.
“If he keeps playing and scoring goals, you don’t know where he could end up.
“Having played in England, all I can say is that I believe he can go down there and make an impact and do very well.
“Eventually I believe he will play in the Championship, quite easily.”