St Johnstone midfielder Chris Millar used to tap into Jody Morris’s football brain when the two men were Perth team-mates.
But Millar admitted that it took the departure of the former Chelsea and Leeds man to take his game to the next level.
The 31-year-old has signed a two-year contract extension which keeps him at McDairmid Park until the summer of 2017.
And he’ll be playing his football in the central midfield role that he has made his own since Morris returned to England.
“I’m delighted it has been sorted out and the ink is dry on the contract,” the ex-Morton man said.
“I have had the best years of my career here. When I first came we were in the First Division and I wasn’t sure how long I’d be here. To have nine years at a club doesn’t happen often these days. You know what football is like.
“It’s been great and we’ve had great success. Hopefully there’s more to come.
“When I came here I was played on the right but I was a central midfielder at Morton. That’s where I wanted to play. But we had Jody Morris and Murray Davidson in there at the time. They were the preferred two in there with Liam Craig on the left.
“Jody moving on to Bristol probably helped me because I got my chance to move inside. I feel I have done well in that role. I have played some of my best football over the last 18 months.
“I’m not the type who goes by players on the wing, that was never my game. I like to be involved, show for the ball and take it on, starting attacks from there. It suits my game, being mobile and getting about the park.”
Millar pointed out that he would have been a fool if he hadn’t learned from a player like Morris.
He said: “Jody and I were tight, travelling together. We would always talk about the games. He played at such a high level. You were always going to learn from him. He was such a big influence here in the dressing room.
“He wasn’t the biggest, a big monster like say Michael Duberry, but when he talked people listened. You try and learn from that and take it on in your own game, especially now I am one of the more experienced players here.
“Jody was so down to earth and a good guy. He was a good influence on me.
“He played against Barcelona and in the Cup Winners Cup final. If you have played at that level you’ve got to have done something right in the game. He always gave me good advice.”
Millar is currently sidelined with a groin injury and doesn’t expect to feature at Motherwell tomorrow.
“I think this weekend will come too soon for me,” he said. “I want to make sure the groin has proper strength in it with the rehab I have been doing.
“Hopefully I will be back in contention for the cup tie at Queen of the South.”
Manager Tommy Wright was thrilled that Millar’s deal has been tied up.
“He’s had a good season and the fact he scored a goal sealed the new contract,” he joked.
“He has been a very influential player since I joined the club and his level of performance is consistently high.
“Midge was a right-sided midfielder when me and Steve (Lomas) arrived and over time has moved centrally, which is his best position. He has the energy to get around the pitch and he always wants the ball.
“If you look at some of his performances, especially in Europe and big domestic matches, he can do a job in front of the back four as well. He has a few strings to his bow.
“On the ball he has become better and his level of consistency has become better. The biggest compliment you can pay him is there hasn’t been a dip in his form.
“At 70 minutes in a game you think: ‘We’re going to have to make a change,’ but he always finds another gear. But there’s more to him than that – he’s tenacious, breaks things up and never hides from the ball. If he’s fit then, nine times out of 10 he plays and shows his importance to the team.”