Talk of a future Scotland call-up is flattering for Zander Clark.
But helping St Johnstone into the Betfred Cup semi-final is the only thing on the Perth goalkeeper’s mind.
McDiarmid Park boss Tommy Wright certainly views his man as a future international and Gordon Strachan may be of a similar mind after watching him keep Hearts at bay on Saturday.
But, with Alan Mannus as his rival for a starting place with Saints, anything other than a one-game-at-a-time mind-set would be folly.
“It was unfortunate Al was ill for the Partick game and it could have been easy for the manager to put him back in,” Clark said.
“It was never a certainty that I would hold onto my place, especially with how well Al has been doing since coming back from the Euros. I thought it was 50/50.
“So I was delighted I got the nod and I was happy to go in and do well against Hearts.”
He added: “It’s pleasing for me that the manager has come out and said that he thinks highly of me. But I am taking nothing for granted. I have to keep giving him food for thought.
“I wasn’t aware Gordon Strachan was at the game until later.
“Being called up for Scotland would obviously be something special. As a kid it’s something you dream of, playing for your country. But I’m not going to say I should be in Scotland squads.
“I have only played two league games so far this season and I just have to concentrate on performing well for St Johnstone if I am selected. I know I still have a lot of work ahead of me.
“Obviously Jack (Hamilton) has been in the squad. He has been great for Hearts and fully deserves it.
“He is a year or two younger than me and has come up through the age groups in Scotland squads. He has done well coming up the youth ranks.
“I have never been in any of those squads.”
A trip to Pittodrie will bring back happy memories for Clark, who was part of one of the most famous results in the club’s recent history.
“I made my first start at Pittodrie last season in the game we won 5-1,” he recalled.
“But we know this is going to be a tough game for us and we have to be right at it to give them a real test.
“Whether it is in the league or a cup everyone has that desire to work hard for each other. It has always been there in my time with the club.
“But we seem to have that wee extra edge when it comes to cup ties.
“In the last few years we have won the Scottish Cup and been to numerous semi-finals. This is another great chance to progress again.
“The boys that won the cup want more and we know it is achievable now. So we head into the game in a positive frame of mind and hopefully we can put on another good performance.”
