Peter Macdonald has had his fill of being the comeback kid.
The St Johnstone striker was returning from eight months out injured when introduced for the final eight minutes of Wednesday night’s Co-operative Insurance cup meeting with Celtic.
Now he hopes to remain in the thoughts of manager Derek McInnes as Saints prepare to host Neil Lennon’s men again, this time on league business.
“It’s good to be back after so long away from the first-team,” said the former Rangers striker, whose career has been dogged by injury.
“I’ve made too many comebacks to be honest. But we are where we are and I just hope to do well enough in reserve games to really force my way into the gaffer’s plans.
“Being on the bench for the last two matches tells me I must be doing something right. But I won’t be happy until I get a start.Bad luck”I wouldn’t have had any luck over the past few seasons if it wasn’t for bad luck.
“But that’s how it goes and I’m not going to dwell on what might have been.
“I’ve played four prep games and would hope to get another one under my belt next week.
“I’m just about there after being out since mid-February.”
With the short-term deal he signed during the summer expiring at the turn of the year, there may well be a need to get a run in the side.
But MacDonald is adamant he’s not thinking that far ahead.
“I’ve not thought about my contract situation,” he claimed.
“I have eight weeks left on it but I’ve blanked that out.
“I’m just glad to be back playing.
“The aim now is to get in the team and if I do that then I’ll be in charge of my own destiny.
“If I’m doing well then hopefully things should go okay.”AtoneMacDonald is backing his side to atone for the poor start they made to the cup tie.
Celtic started lively and you can’t give players of their class time.
“I was sitting there in the dugout shell shocked as we went three behind. That just wasn’t like us at all.
“But the boys showed great character from thereafter.
“From 30 minutes on we got right in about Celtic and they didn’t like it. We gave them a fright.
“Now hopefully we can take those positives into Saturday and gain revenge for the cup result.
“Celtic are a quality side. But we were a wonder save away from taking them to extra-time after being 3-0 down. “If we are fired up from the first kick of the ball on Saturday then we should do all right.”
McInnes is demanding his side perform for 90 minutes the way they did in the last hour in midweek.
“We want to impose ourselves on the game in the manner we did from 30 minutes onwards the other night,” he said.
“We also need to limit the number of mistakes we make defensively.”
St Johnstone still have a concern over midfielder Murray Davidson, while skipper Jody Morris again misses out.
Saints had arranged a precautionary pitch inspection for 9am, due to fears of heavy rain.