The distance from New Douglas Park on a cold December day to the red-hot atmosphere of the Ataturk Stadium will seem like a million miles to Liam Craig.
The St Johnstone midfielder will walk out in Turkey on Thursday night wondering just how he got from a debut at the home of Hamilton Accies in front of less than 2000 spectators in 2007 to representing the Perth club on the European stage.
The road has been a long and winding one for Craig but he has always moved forward with Saints, with the team going from First Division also-rans back then to flying the flag for Scotland against Eskisehirspor.
As he stood on the brink of an eagerly-anticipated Europa League second qualifying round tie, he reflected upon his remarkable journey.
”When I first signed for St Johnstone European football seemed a long way away,” said Craig. ”My debut was against Hamilton away in the First Division and we got beaten 1-0 and now here I am going to Turkey to represent the club in Europe.
”Back then we were behind both Dundee and Accies in the league but, really, we weren’t even close to them as regards the number of points.
”We did have a good run to the Scottish Cup semi-final and ended up losing to Rangers but, in terms of the league, we were miles off the pace.
Craig added: “So if you had said back then that we were going to be even close to challenging for a European spot, never mind qualifying, no one would have believed that.
”It has been a great progression but we have worked hard for it. It has not come easily for us.”
Signed initially on loan from Falkirk, Craig is now one of the longest-serving players at McDiamid Park and his experience will be crucial tomorrow night.
”I have been here 4 years now and that’s a bit scary!” he joked. ”But the club has been moving in the right direction in all that time and that’s why I have been more than happy to stay here.”
Continued…
”When I first came in I only signed for a month but I was quickly listening to Derek and Tony and I wanted to be a part of what they were building.
”I am glad I am still a part of it. Now we are about to open a new chapter with this trip to Turkey and I can’t wait.”
Craig has watched on bewildered like the rest of us as the game has lurched from crisis to crisis over the last few months.
Now Saints have a chance to give everyone a boost by performing well on the big stage in Eskisehir.
They are, it seems, determined to take that opportunity.
”Scottish football is going through a hard time just now so if we can do something that helps then that would be great,” added Craig.
”It would be nice if we and the other Scottish sides in Europe could put a better spin on the game here because it is all negative just now.
”You are not reading much about the sides that are in Europe and it’s been overshadowed by all that has been going on recently.
”Let’s look at the positives and it is going to be a great week in the history of St Johnstone.
”It is my first time in Europe and that’s the case for a lot of our players but we have been speaking to the fans at functions and around the place and they tell you all about previous campaigns, Monaco etc.
”So we are aware of what it means to them. I hear we are taking a few hundred fans with us and that is brilliant for a club of our size. We don’t want to let them down.”