James McFadden is a walking reminder for Callum Davidson of two career ends of the road.
But the St Johnstone assistant manager is delighted to see his old Scotland team-mate at McDiarmid Park nonetheless.
Davidson revealed: “I was in a few Scotland squads with James, including my last one against Macedonia.
“My friend is a photographer and he sent me a photo of that team and James was sitting beside me in the line-up at the start of the game.
“We have had a laugh looking back but that was my last cap and, as usual for me, I had trouble with my hamstring. It tore and I was off after about 15 minutes.
“He also played for Motherwell the day I made my final appearance, on the last day of the season in 2013. I didn’t know it was my last one at the time because I only decided over the summer when Tommy asked me to be his assistant.
“So that’s twice James has seen me off!”
As every member of the Tartan Army in that era, and the players, will testify, McFadden was the man who shouldered the hopes of a nation for most of his 45 caps.
Davidson added: “Faddy reminded me that he scored in that one (a 2-0 World Cup qualifier win) but I was probably in that bad a mood I still have no idea what the final score was.
“He was a talisman for Scotland for years and everyone remembers his goal against France in Paris.
“James was the main man and he carried the national team for a few years. He has had quality in abundance throughout his career.”
From what the Saints coach has seen so far in training, people won’t be talking about McFadden’s brilliance just in the past tense.
“He’s one of those players who can go by defenders with a dip of the shoulder,” Davidson pointed out.
“He goes past defenders as if they weren’t there, creating a bit of space for himself or others. He has special ability and hopefully he can show that here.
“He also has that bit of composure when he gets the ball in good areas of the pitch. James is prepared to wait for the right pass.
“James is used to the spotlight and he likes it. He likes being the main man and hopefully he can produce the goods for us.
“He had a bad injury two or three years ago but he could get back into the national set-up. He’s only 31. So why not?
“Obviously James hasn’t played this season but I have been very impressed with his fitness levels in training this week and in the 45 minutes he got against Aberdeen’s development team.
“He has been looking after himself. He knows himself that the older you get the more you have to do that.”
Davidson doesn’t view McFadden as a like-for-like replacement for injured Steven MacLean, but he is hoping for the same sort of influence on the Perth team.
And he is expected to feature against St Mirren at McDiarmid Park this afternoon.
“We plan to play him through the middle or behind the striker,” Davidson explained. “So I believe he will score goals for us.
“James could combine with the strikers we have at the club because he provides us with something different.
“He’s a totally different player from Steven MacLean and we will have to be prepared to adapt as a team because we want the best out of James. We are looking for goals from him.
“Macca is a leader and he gets people fired up on the pitch. Faddy relies more on guile. He’s not a direct swap. They play the same position but they have two different styles.
“The condition he’s in coming in here is a credit to James. If he wasn’t too fussed about the rest of his career he wouldn’t have worked so hard to make sure he was ready when he got a new club sorted out.
“He does all the work and the cool downs. He is a top quality player.
“He has played at the highest level and he has played well. I think we know what we are getting with James.
“James has played well wherever he has been and he will bring that little bit of spark we are looking for.”
Saints could be without Chris Millar for the second week running. He hasn’t trained all week due to a groin strain. Brian Graham returns to the squad.