St Johnstone’s Lee Croft has spoken of his devastation at missing out on Sunday’s historic Scottish Cup semi-final victory over Aberdeen.
The winger cut a frustrated figure sitting in the stands at Ibrox as Saints came from behind to beat the Dons after he tweaked his hamstring in training 24 hours earlier.
His heartache at missing out was increased by the fact that family and friends had travelled up from England to see him play.
However, he is still just delighted that St Johnstone managed to cope without him and negotiate their way to the club’s first Scottish Cup final.
Croft said: “I tweaked my hamstring during training on Saturday. I came off early after I felt it. I had treatment all day and the gaffer gave me until Sunday morning.
“I went out with the physio, did a few tests but it wasn’t right. You just have to be honest and I didn’t want to do myself or the team an injustice.
“My game is all about being dynamic and explosive power. I couldn’t do that so if I had gone out there and risked it, I might have caused more damage or even torn it so I think I made the correct decision.
“I was absolutely devastated though as it was one of the biggest games of the season and I had really been looking forward to it.
“I also had a lot of my family and friends up for the game. I really enjoyed the fact we won the match but watching was horrible for me as I just wanted to be out there but couldn’t.
“Thankfully the lads pulled through for me.”
Not for the first time this season, Saints star man was striker Stevie May who scored the two superb goals that took them through to the final.
Croft, who is in his second spell at Perth, admitted he has seen a huge difference in the front man since he was last at the club and he firmly believes May has what it takes to go right to the top.
The 21-year-old has been linked with a host of clubs including English League One sides Rotherham, Preston and Peterborough, and it is almost certain teams will be trying to lure Saints prize asset away from McDiarmid this summer.
However, Croft believes that May, who has already scored 25 goals this season, should only move if the club bidding for him is from the upper echelons of the English game.
He said: “Stevie scored two great goals and he is definitely capable of playing down south. He is still learning but he has matured a lot since the last time I was here.
“I always believed he had a lot of ability but coming back, I have noticed a massive difference in him. I can only see him continuing to progress.
“He is very confident and I think it was good for him the way he has broken into the team, going out on loan a couple of times and scoring a lot of goals.
“He got his chance here in pre-season and really seized it. Stevie has scored goals at every level and is just a natural goal-scorer.
“You might not see him in a game for long periods then he will pop up with a goal, which is what he is there for. Obviously, the club will not want to lose him but he has scored a lot this year and will be on the radar of other clubs.
“I think he believes he can play at a higher level than the sides that came in for him in January.
“I said to him then that he should remain patient, stay here, score a few more goals until the end of the season and hopefully something better will come up for him.
“You never know, lads have gone from here to the Premier League. He has scored as many goals as them and he is also younger as well. I can just see him getting better and better.”