Steven MacLean has penned a 12-month contract extension and admits he wants to emulate “goalden oldie” Kenny Miller.
Now in his fifth season at St Johnstone, the frontman has been a key player for Perth manager Tommy Wright and has bagged 10 goals already this term.
MacLean, who was lured back to Scotland from Yeovil, reckons he is playing the best football of his career, after spells with clubs including Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth.
And he admits one-time Ibrox teammate Miller has shown how to extend a career at the top level.
MacLean said: “The contract is done, signed and sealed. I’ve got another year and I’m delighted.
“I feel great so if the body holds up hopefully I will be here for a few more years.
“I’ve not seen any ill effects this season so I’m keen to keep going.
“I’m not sure what’s going on with Kenny and Rangers about a new contract but he was their best player when we played them.
“He is 37 and I’m only 34 so there should be a few years left in me.
“I played with Kenny when I was at Rangers, usually in the reserves right enough. He is a good player and a good lad.
“You can see he has tapered his game as he has got older, dropping into pockets of space.
“He is a great pro, he looks after his body and he is a great role model.
“You start looking after your body better as you get older. You make better decisions and you eat better, and maybe don’t go out as much.
“My all-round game is probably better than it has ever been. The full package is better now.
“I scored goals at Sheffield Wednesday but back then I wasn’t bothered about my link-up play. I just wanted to score goals.
“I wasn’t too interested in running channels I just wanted to get in the box and find the net. It was Paul Sturrock that made me think more about my game.
“When I was in the Championship I had to find pockets of space because I’ve never been the quickest. It is a brutal league so you have to be quick or strong or clever.”
MacLean follows on from midfielder David Wotherspoon and defender Joe Shaughnessy in signing new deals at Perth and negotiations are ongoing with several other players Wright is keen to keep.
The striker is hoping those talks with Saints chairman Steve Brown bear fruit.
He said: “There are boys sitting out of contract so hopefully the chairman can get a few more deals done.
“We didn’t strengthen in the window and every year gets harder and harder.”
MacLean, who netted in Saints historic 2014 Scottish Cup final win over Dundee United, is now focused on Saturday’s cup-tie with Partick Thistle, which comes hard on the heels of last week’s 1-0 win at Firhill.
The centre again put the Jags to the sword and frustrated Thistle attacker Christie Elliott was red-carded in the closing stages for clashing with Saints star Graham Cummins.
MacLean said: “It’s always great to play in the national cup competition and to win it again would be fantastic, But we can’t look past Partick.
“They have been difficult games this season and they probably feel a bit aggrieved at losing last week.
“Their fans weren’t best pleased when I was holding the ball in the corner in the closing minutes and they were getting a bit wound up. But it’s all part of football. We have had teams wasting time at McDiarmid this season long before the end.
“There’s mutual respect between the players and Partick are a decent side. We have to make sure their season doesn’t turn with a result against us.”
