If Murray Davidson needs advice on what move to make from St Johnstone, he doesn’t have to venture far.
The midfielder’s namesake, Callum, has been a rising star, and knows all about the transfer speculation that goes with it.
A number of clubs were linked with him during his first spell at McDiarmid Park, before he was sold to Blackburn Rovers for £1.75 million.
Rangers have tabled a bid of around £150,000 for Murray that would probably need to be trebled to get Saints chairman Geoff Brown’s attention.
It will be no surprise if clubs down south show their hand in the near future.
Callum said, “It’s a difficult question, but I know where I would go I’d go to Rangers or Celtic, without a doubt, rather than the English Championship. The Premiership would be different of course.
“I think the Old Firm are a great stepping stone. You’re under a different type of pressure there and if you can handle it there you can go on to handle it anywhere.”
He continued, “I honestly don’t know if he’d go straight into the Rangers team. You’d have to ask Ally McCoist that, but I think he could adapt to their team quite easily.
“His strength is attacking the ball and Rangers do have a lot of possession, which would suit him. I think if he gets his chance he’ll take it.”
Callum, who went on to play for Scotland, Leicester City and Preston North End before returning home in the summer, felt his own performances weren’t affected by the prospect of a move from Perth back in 1998, and if Saturday’s match at Aberdeen is anything to go by, it is exactly the same with Murray.SpeculationHe recalled, “Speculation didn’t bother me. My thought process was ‘if it happens, it happens and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t’.
“I think I once had 11 guys from Leeds watching, but I just went out and played. I had boys like Roddy Grant and George O’Boyle teasing me all the time, but I just got on with it.
“I think Murray showed against Aberdeen that he can keep his focus so it shouldn’t be a problem. I’m hoping he’ll stay to January, but he’s probably thinking different.
“I haven’t actually seen that much of him because he was ill during pre-season, which set him back, but from what I have seen he looks composed on the ball, strong and athletic.”
Callum summed up his return to SPL football at Pittodrie as “hectic.”
The best chances fell to Aberdeen, and in the second half Fraser Fyvie deceived Peter Enckelman with a cross that hit the post.
It wasn’t the only example of a strong wind deceiving the Finnish keeper, and on another occasion Murray Davidson was on hand to clear off the line after he dropped the ball on the penalty spot.
New recruits Cillian Sheridan and Marcus Haber who signed just before the game will need several matches to get them up to speed, according to boss Derek McInnes.
“We’ve proved again that we’ll be a difficult side to beat, which is pleasing for me,” he said. “We could have done a wee bit better when they were down to 10 men, but all in all I’m pretty pleased.”
Dons boss Craig Brown admitted Ryan Jack deserved his 65th-minute red card for a two-footed lunge on Murray.