St Johnstone veteran Liam Craig believes young Saints hoping to make the grade need look no further than the first-team dressing-room for inspiration.
Craig, who combines coaching and scouting with his playing role at McDiarmid Park, believes youngsters Cammy Ballantyne, John Robertson, Ross Sinclair and Olly Hamilton can follow in the footsteps of current top-team stars.
Ballantyne is impressing on loan at Montrose, Robertson is turning out for Forfar, while Sinclair and Hamilton are learning their trades at Cowdenbeath.
Stevie May, Zander Clark, Chris Kane, Jason Kerr, Liam Gordon, Callum Hendry and Ali McCann have established themselves in the Perth side’s squad in recent years after time spent on loan.
It’s a familiar path for Craig (33), too, and one he is keen to help guide Saints’ current young crop down as they try to work their way into boss Callum Davidson’s plans.
“You look at the St Johnstone first team now and it’s made up of players that all went out on loan – it’s the core of the squad,” the midfielder said after taking in the recent Angus derby between Montrose and Forfar.
“You only have to look at Zander Clark, Liam Gordon, Jason Kerr, Ali McCann, Chris Kane and Stevie May – they all went out on loan at similar ages to our current boys and they’re here now.
“Players need to realise how important their development at this stage of their career is and how beneficial a loan move can be.
“If they’re prepared to go there, work hard, listen to the people around them and take on board the criticism they’ll do well.
“At times it will be tough because you’re in an environment where winning means everything, whether that’s in terms of points, promotion or staying away from relegation it’s massive for these players.
“I came on loan to St Johnstone many years ago now – back in 2007 – and this is my 11th season with the club.
“I sat next to Steven Anderson at the (Forfar v Montrose) game and it’s great to have people like that at Forfar who can look after Robbo. Ando was great for my career even though we’re similar ages.
“People like that are only going to benefit Robbo because they’ll tell him the truth.
“It’s the same as Cammy at Montrose – he’s got experienced players around him playing in the middle of the park with Paul Watson and good senior professionals like Sean Dillon.
“I was at the Forfar game when John played against Hibs a couple of weeks ago in the League Cup, Cammy is playing against Ross County, so they’re testing themselves against Premiership opposition.
“Olly and Ross are doing the same at Cowdenbeath – playing top opposition in Hearts and Inverness.”
‘Saints kids must have first-team ambitions’
Although the Saints hopefuls aren’t in Davidson’s immediate plans, Craig insists a strong representation of academy products in the current team are proof that hard work pays off.
Craig continued: “They’re maybe not ready for the St Johnstone first team just now but the players I mentioned before weren’t ready at a similar age but they went to these loan clubs and kicked on.
“Jason went to East Fife and Queen of the South, Mayzo was at Alloa and Hamilton, Zander Queen of the South and Elgin so they’ve all had these moves to develop their careers.
“It gives them the platform to play in the Premiership and that’s what the loan boys just now have got to look at.
“A lot of credit goes to the club and the academy over the last seven or eight years for the amount of players they’ve brought through into the first team.
“You look at it in terms of money and what Stevie May brought to the club – he moved down the road for £800,000 in the end.
“It shows that it works and it’s great now that because of the success more teams will want to come and take our players on loan.”
Craig is Jack of all trades and hopes to be master of one
Between his work with Saints on and off the pitch, his role on the PFA Scotland committee and three kids at home, Craig has a hectic schedule.
That’s just the way he likes it, though, still maintaining a love for the game as he edges closer to retiring from playing.
“I’ve got three kids in the house as well so it’s difficult but I love football,” Craig added.
“I’ve been involved in it a long time and I love Scottish football. The boys sometimes slaughter me because if there’s a Scottish game on the telly I’ll watch that before anything else, even if it’s the Premier League or Champions League.
“That’s because it’s relevant to what I know and what I’m used to. I’ve been in it since I left school a week after turning 16 and I moved into full-time football. I’m 34 in December but I love the game.
“I’ve been fortunate to have a good career and play a lot of games so if I can pass on my experience to younger players and help them, while developing my coaching and knowledge of the game, then brilliant.
“I’d love the opportunity to stay in the game longer and, when you’ve worked with St Johnstone for as long as I have, it’d be great to give back to the younger players here.
“Even when I’m not playing on a Saturday in the first team, being a good team-mate and helping out players on the pitch is just as important as playing.”
Craig hopes his future in the game points to coaching and management. He praised Davidson and legendary cup-winning manager Tommy Wright for starting him on that road.
He said: “When Tommy was the manager he was brilliant letting me coach with the reserves, under-20s and under-18s.
“Since Callum’s come in he’s put more responsibility on me, which is great. I’m doing monthly plans on where the players are, who’s watching them and do reviews on what they’ve done.
“For me, it’s good because it’s something that I’m new to, especially clipping games and going over it. It’s helping my development because I want to go into coaching when I finish playing.
“To be able to work with him, Steven MacLean and Alec Cleland it’s helping me a lot as a coach, even though I want to still play.
“The bigger picture is I want to go into that side of it. I’m learning every day on the playing side from the manager, which is great, and certainly the coaching aspect.
“The manager has been brilliant with me in terms of getting to watch the players, trusting what I’m telling him and I’m picking up new skills with technology like Wyscout.
“He’s put a lot of trust in me to go do this and I’m really enjoying going to games.
“I’ve taken one or two things at training with Macca and Eck and the manager is open with me bouncing ideas off him.
“He (the manager) is honest with me and that’s the way we’ve got to be with the players.
“As a footballer you want that to improve.
“If they want to listen, learn and work hard, there’s no reason why they can’t have the careers they dream of.”
