Stevie May’s Sunday hat-trick confirmed him as Scotland’s top goalscorer for the calendar year.
Perth defender Steven Anderson hopes the under-21 international, who scored 36 goals for Hamilton Accies and Saints in 2013, sticks around at McDiarmid Park to emulate the achievement in 2014.
Anderson has been with the club long enough to know that hat-tricks in the top flight don’t come around too often, so he’s happy to see the Scotland U21 man hogging the headlines, despite the fact there were several stand-out performers in the derby win against Dundee United.
He said: “Stevie popped up with three goals, but it was an all-round team performance. But he deserves the plaudits because not many Saints players get hat-tricks.
“Peaso (Peter MacDonald) at Motherwell was the last I remember, and that was four years ago.
“It is great for Stevie to be scoring goals and it is great for us. We need someone to be scoring regularly.
“With the transfer window coming up maybe it wasn’t good timing for us that he got a hat-trick against United! Hopefully we will keep him, but the way I see it if he gets a move then he deserves it.”
Sunday was also a day to remember for Anderson, who made his comeback after being out for nearly three months.
“I had an inkling I might get a game against United, but it still came as a surprise,” he said.
“It was great to get back playing rather than be hanging about. It has been frustrating because I have been able to run and did everything but for the contact stuff after the operation.
“It has been really frustrating over the last three or four weeks waiting for my chance, but big Sanny (Sanel Jahic) has been doing well, so I couldn’t really complain I got my chance in the derby and I was just glad we got a win.”
He added: “When the injury happened it was horrible. The thumb was pointing the wrong way. It was horrific.
“It was seven hours before I could get the surgery and then three hours in theatre. It wasn’t just a dislocation.
“I know the lads were having a laugh but that is this team for you. You get slaughtered. But they help get you through it with the banter even if it is at your expense.
“The injury was very unusual and very awkward. I had to bide my time because the surgeon warned me of the dangers of coming back too soon.
“It was good to get a few tackles in against United. I played an astro game against Falkirk but I had to test myelf in the real thing.
“I won’t have a problem playing three games in a matter of days. I have to take my hat off to all the medical team at the club who have helped me get through the last few months, physically and mentally.”
Saints have struggled to back up their outstanding performances of the season with another one in the following fixture, and Anderson is determined that will change at Fir Park on New Year’s Day.
He said: “We are a pressing team and that showed against United. We were right in their faces and very solid. We have to match that against Motherwell.
“It was great to give the fans a derby win because they have had a long wait for a league win here.”
He continued: “But it is really good for the team to reduce the gap that was opening up with a wee run that can close quickly.”