He may not be around to enjoy the fruits of his labour, but St Johnstone’s on-loan striker Brian Graham is determined to get the Perth club back into Europe.
Saints are involved in a three-way Tayside fight for fourth spot in the Premiership, which will earn qualification to the Europa League if Inverness Caledonian Thistle lift the Scottish Cup.
The former Raith man is still contracted to Dundee United, but has ruled out any possibility of returning to Tannadice.
And it’s far from certain that extending his stay at McDiarmid Park will be his next career move either.
There may be uncertainty as far as his long-term footballing future is concerned, but Graham’s short-term goals are crystal clear.
“My only focus is getting St Johnstone as high up the table as possible,” he pointed out.
“St Johnstone have got into Europe a few times but I’ve never played.
“Hopefully we can finish fourth and, with a bit of help from Inverness, get there again.
“We’ve got five games to go, but it’s only four for me because I can’t play against United.”
He added: “My contract at United is up at the end of the season and at the moment I’m a St Johnstone player.
“I don’t think I’ll be at Dundee United next season. Definitely not. Good luck to them but it just didn’t work out for me at that club.
“I don’t know where I’ll end up next season. I’ll play it by ear.
“It’s new to me because I’ve always been signed on a pre-contract or under contract.
“I’ve scored goals here and contributed to our top six finish. The aim was to come here and do well.
“I’m confident I’ll get a team. That’s not an issue. It’s just a case of where it is.
“The gaffer spoke to me the other day and I think they’re going to make me an offer.
“I want to stay in Scotland. My wife’s due a baby in four weeks so I don’t want to be moving away and I’d like to get things sorted as soon as possible.”
The arrival of Graham baby number two means that the target-man won’t have the same complications as some of his Perth team-mates should he still be there next season and their Europa goal is realised.
“A few boys have booked holidays and they might end up being cut short, but I know I’m going to have a new-born so it isn’t bothering me,” he joked. “I know I’ll be here.
“It might be no bad thing for me actually.’there you go darling, you can take the baby, I’m off to work!’
“We all want to get the club into Europe again. Holidays wouldn’t be a problem for the boys.
“A football career doesn’t last long. There will be plenty of chances to go on holiday but not many chances to play in Europe.”
United’s collapse over the last few months has presented Saints with an opportunity not many would have expected.
“Three points will take us above Dundee United, with their game being on the Sunday,” Graham said.
“That’s a big incentive.
“If we do go above them it would be up to them to respond. The pressure would be right on them, and hopefully we can make sure that happens.”
Graham certainly didn’t see the Tangerines’ form slump coming.
He said: “They started so well and there was a real confidence about the place.
“There have been a few in and out the door since I was there at the start of the season, and maybe unrest in the camp, but I’m sure Jackie will turn it round and get them going again.”
Graham was given plenty of stick from the Dundee supporters when the sides clashed just a couple of weeks ago. It obviously didn’t affect him though, as he scored the winner that day.
“I get a bit of grief from the Dundee fans, which is quite funny,” he said.
“I never got to play in a Dundee derby when I was at United though, so I don’t know why they’re giving me stick!
“It’s not as if I’ve got a track record against them.
“We’re not thinking about what a win for us in this game would do to Dundee. We’re just concentrating on the fact that three points would take us above United.”
Suspended Simon Lappin and Steven Anderson are out for Saints, while Frazer Wright, Murray Davidson and Brian Easton are all injury doubts.