Paul Paton insists he is putting all thoughts of making it to the World Cup Finals with Northern Ireland and a possible rematch with a certain Lionel Messi to one side to fully focus on doing well for St Johnstone in the hope of winning a new contract with the club.
The 30-year-old midfielder has been called up for his country’s play-off matches against Switzerland next month.
There is a huge amount at stake for Michael O’Neill’s side but Paton, who was recalled to St Johnstone’s starting line-up for Tuesday night’s draw with Ross County, is aware that unless he is doing well for Saints, there is little chance of him adding to his tally of five caps.
However, Paton, who faced Barcelona’s Messi in a youth tournament while playing for Rangers, is determined to put club before country with vital games against Partick and Celtic before the play-off with the Swiss.
Paton said: “I have been called up to the World Cup play-off. I’m not a big player for my country. I have five caps. But that’s five more than a lot of people would have thought a few years ago.
“If it’s the only five caps I get, I will look back on them and be proud.
“It would be good to go there next month knowing it is such a massive game for your country but I have games for my club before then and that is what I am concentrating on.
“I have to get through them injury free and I have to get starts. I didn’t start the previous two games. I was very disappointed because I felt I was having a good season.
“Hopefully I have shown enough to play on Saturday. That is my only focus – it’s my bread and butter. If I’m not playing for my club, I won’t be playing for Northern Ireland that’s for sure.
“I haven’t even thought about the World Cup next summer. I am keeping my feet on the ground.
“If I am doing well and get the opportunity to go to the World Cup that would be great but I am more realistic.”
Paton added: “I am out of contract at the end of the season. I can’t be thinking of going to a World Cup when I might not even have a job.
“The worry for me is playing hard every week and flying into tackles and I might not even have a job next year. That’s my No.1 priority, to either get a new contract here or start looking elsewhere.
“I played against Messi when I was younger, for Rangers against Barcelona. I don’t think I will be playing against him again. But we will see what happens against Switzerland next month.”
Saints could only draw 0-0 against the Staggies at McDiarmid with Paton having a great chance to give his side the lead in the second half when he got his head to a Brian Easton cross.
However, he could not direct if far away enough from County keeper Scott Fox who saved with St Johnstone now having gone four games without finding the back of the net.
Paton said: “It was a good ball from Easton. I could say I lost it in the floodlights but that would be a lie.
“I just tried to keep it low and hard. I managed that but not far enough into a corner. I am disappointed with that.
“We just need someone to nick us a goal. I was trying to get forward to make something happen.
“Obviously we aren’t on a great run of form but we won’t get too frustrated. It was positive to get a clean sheet.
“We started the season flying and we have dipped a bit. But we have the character to pick ourselves up and come good again. I’m pretty sure that will happen soon.”
Boos rang out from some of the home supporters at the end of the Ross County game with Paton admitting that is a sign of how high expectations have risen at the club.
Paton said: “That’s 15 points so far and that would average out at 45 points. You would hope that would get you top six.
“But there are a lot of big clubs back in the league and realistically we should probably be nowhere near it in terms of our budget. But we are always striving for it.
“You could hear the disappointment from our fans at the end because we didn’t manage to win. That just comes because you have been so successful in the past.
“There are expectations here now that maybe there shouldn’t be, I don’t know. But that comes with doing well, as we’ve done well in the past.
“Fans want to see goals and good attacking play. But it was another game we’ve not scored in so they are within their rights to show frustration. We are frustrated as well.
