The case for a Jason Kerr Scotland call-up can be put on hold for a few months.
But when Alex McLeish next selects a squad in the spring, there are likely to be plenty of people in Perth banging the drum for the young defender’s inclusion.
Despite watching fellow former under-21 centre-backs David Bates, Scott McKenna and Jack Hendry get capped in recent times, Kerr hasn’t yet been picked by the national coach.
And he won’t let Scotland talk take his focus away from maintaining his club’s push for another top six finish.
The 21-year-old starred in the summer’s Toulon Tournament and his consistency has prompted Saints boss Tommy Wright to describe him as one of the country’s top young talents.
And his man of the match performance against Kilmarnock on Saturday was his latest contribution to the Perth side’s record breaking run of six successive shut-outs.
“All I can do is play as well as I can at St Johnstone,” said Kerr. “If Scotland want to pick me then I would be buzzing with that.
“But they must think there are better players and I’m fine with that.”
Kerr is catching the eye in the top flight after career progression in the lower leagues on loan at East Fife and then Queen of the South.
“I think I’ve grown so much as a player compared to last season and the one before,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve got stronger, quicker and my intelligence in the game is better.
“I was hoping it would go this well for me. When the gaffer told me I was playing last season, I just tried to do as well as I could.
“Staying in the team since then has been good for me and hopefully that continues.
“Having experience at the back like Richard Foster and Joe Shaughnessy, they all tell me how to play.
“And with some of the coaching staff having previously been defenders, it’s good to have them.
“Myself and Joe need to keep on top of our game to stay in the team.
“You feel like if you have one or two bad games then you’ll be switched around. There’s Liam Gordon and Steven Anderson is getting back to fitness.”
Keeper Zander Clark, who has also been championed for national recognition by manager Wright, only had one real save to make in the 0-0 draw with Killie.
“The back four and Zander will be happy to get six consecutive clean sheets at this level, which is unheard of at the club,” said Kerr.
“When you keep a clean sheet you take confidence from it. We feel like we’re not going to concede a goal in every game we play.
“If we keep clean sheets we always think that we’re going to score. Clean sheets will win you games and now, after the break, we need to keep doing that.
“We’re keeping the strikers at bay but having big Zander behind us is a nice feeling.
“We know if we can’t stop them, he will. I’m sure he will be buzzing about keeping a sixth consecutive clean sheet.”
Saints, Scottish Cup winners in 2014, have landed a January 19 home tie with Hamilton Accies in the fourth round of this season’s competition.
“Everyone loves a Scottish Cup run and we want to do that for the fans,” said Kerr.
“I signed the season after the Scottish Cup win so I came into a very accomplished side. It would be nice for me personally to be involved in a good run.
“In the current form we’re in, I think we can beat anyone. There’s loads of confidence and you could especially see it the last time we played Hamilton.”
