Chris Millar is hoping he is back in the St Johnstone team to stay.
The Perth midfielder took full advantage of Murray Davidson’s misfortune by stepping into the starting line-up against Rangers when his team-mate injured his ankle in the Ibrox warm-up in midweek.
And, after an impressive performance, the former Saints player of the year does not believe his manager needs to hold him back for the clash with Partick Thistle this afternoon.
“I’m ready to play again against Thistle,” he said. “I had a good recovery session and I want to play.
“With everything that has happened I know when I’m not feeling right and I’d put my hand up. I don’t feel I need to be protected and I’m hoping to be involved.
“I have been trying to stay patient but I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t been a frustrating time for me.
“I was itching to get involved against Rangers but the gaffer had me on the bench. I had to take that on the chin and be professional about it.
“I did knock on the manager’s door before to ask what was happening but he told me I just had to bide my time because he had good players who had been doing well in the middle of the park.
“But I’m not a player that is content to come in day after day just to pick up a wage. I want to be involved, play games and contribute to the team.”
Millar added: “This is the first time in my career I have found myself in this situation.
“You don’t feel as big a part of things in the dressing room when you’re not playing. You try not to take it personally but I have played regularly throughout my career. So I went home a happier person the other night.
“But results have been excellent and performances have been good. So I just had to wait for my chance.”
In a long career in professional football, Wednesday night was new territory for Millar.
He explained: “I saw Muzz limping a bit while we were warming-up and I got the call. I was ready to play and it was a good team performance.
“It’s the first time that’s happened for me. I have done it the other way around, having to pull out of the warm-up against Dundee United.
“My last start was against Partick six weeks ago when we won at Firhill and I hadn’t played any reserve games either. So I was happy enough my own performance.
“I actually felt sharp even if I did tire a wee bit towards the end. The GPS data shows I covered a lot of ground.”
Saints will know by the time they kick-off whether the chance to go second is there for them.
“Being in that position is a credit to the boys and now I want to play my part to the full,” he said.
“If we win we could even go second on our own if results go our way, depending on how Aberdeen and Celtic do before we kick off.
“Thistle pass the ball well and they won three out of three last season. But we put that hoodoo to bed earlier in the season at their place.”
