MURRAY DAVIDSON has hailed the form of Steve MacLean as St Johnstone look set for another memorable season.
 

The Perth side currently sit in 4th place in the SPL and have another cup semi final to look forward to, and Davidson says that a big part of the clubs success this year has been a change of approach from his fellow Borderer.
 

Speaking to the Border Telegraph, he said: “Stevie has always been a massive part of our team. He’s such an intelligent footballer and has that ability to bring others into play. Perhaps in previous seasons, he was doing more work outside of the box.
 

“Whereas this year, when crosses are coming into the box I think Macca has just decided 'that's mine.' Strikers need to be a little selfish, and I wouldn’t like to guess, but I think probably 75 per cent of his goals this season have come from inside the six yard box.
 

“He's getting more praise this season because he is one of the top scorers in the league. But we've always known how good a player he is.”
 

It was MacLean of course who sealed the cup win for St Johnstone back in 2014- a game that Davidson missed due to a long-term knee injury. Other injuries have intervened to prevent him adding to his solitary international appearance for Scotland side against Luxembourg in 2012.
 

But the effervescent 27-year old from Innerleithen refuses to look at the negatives, focussing instead on being part of a Saints squad still focussed on making history.


He said: “I try to be positive. Ultimately it's a choice you make. I had a couple of injuries and I was very down. It doesn’t matter what level you play at, nobody wants to wake up on a Saturday and not be able to play.
 

“But I am very grateful to be part of a very special squad here at St Johnstone. This year is the fourth year in a row now we have been involved in Europe. For a club like St Johnstone, with the budget we have, that is a phenomenal achievement. And maybe it will only sink in in 10 or 20 years down the track, when you look back and actually realise how special it was. But success breeds success and now that we've had that taste, we want it again.”


The midfielder attributes the clubs progress over the past few years to a strong work ethic and a settled, experienced group of players.


“We are a close knit group. If you look at the last few summers, there hasn't been a high turnover of players compared to some other sides.


“This is my seventh year at the club and we have never ever had a summer with 10 to 12 people coming in the same number heading out the door. This summer, Graham Cummins has come in and he has been brilliant for us up top.


"We’ve had people like John Sutton and Joe Shaughnessy from Aberdeen who wanted a new challenge. But the big thing for us is the core of the side over the last few years has remained the same.


"For the new guys, they need to buy into what we’re all about, buy into the St Johnstone philosophy and work ethic. It seems to be working for us, so long may that continue.”