St Johnstone may not be able to call upon Brian Graham for Saturday’s Tayside derby.
But Perth midfielder Chris Millar hopes that the in-form frontman will be at McDiarmid Park for the long-term.
Dundee United have confirmed that they won’t be seeking to extend the big striker’s contract in the summer.
So he will be free to turn his loan deal with Saints into a permanent one.
And Millar believes that Graham’s late equaliser against Inverness Caledonian Thistle his fourth goal in six games – showed exactly why he would be worth tying down at Perth.
He said: “It was a great finish from big Brian to get us a point.
“He would have been disappointed not to start but it is about the squad here and we’ve nearly all been in the same position. It is part and parcel of football.
“The manager went with Mikey O’Halloran because we thought his pace would cause them problems and get in behind.
“But Brian made a real impression and answered a few questions.
“I travel up with Brian every day to training and have known him since he was a young lad breaking through at Morton.
“He is all about finishing, always has been.
“He will get chances and he scores goals.
“We have been looking for goals and he has come up with a few in recent weeks. That was the only chance had had after coming on and Brian came up with a great header.”
Millar added: “Brian is a great lad, a good friend.
“He knows he’s leaving Dundee United in the summer and he would be a big asset to us if we can sign him up. I hope we can get him tied-up for next season.”
The Saints players were in Glasgow on Sunday for the annual SPFA Awards’ night when another excellent season wasn’t recognised by their fellow pros.
Millar said: “There were no Saints players in the team of the year.
“It would have been nice for someone to get a mention but we are all about being a team. There are no superstars here.
“But we all know our job and we are a formidable unit. And that has taken us into the top six again.
“We were disappointed not to take all three points on Saturday because we dominated so much of the game. But it’s not a bad point in the circumstances.
“We again showed great character to keep going right to the end after they had scored with one of their few attacks.
“We have finished strongly in recent seasons after maybe being slow burners at the start. We need to do it again.
“The aim is to finish as high as possible and third is still a possibility after getting that late equaliser.
“Hopefully we can take it all the way. That would be good. But fourth would be great for us.”
Whether United won, lost or drew against Inverness last night, Saints know that a victory against the Tangerines will give them a great chance of qualifying for Europe.
He pointed out: “Whatever the result it sets the derby up nicely.
“That is going to be a huge game but we are in a good vein of form and have to keep it going.”