Playing against Celtic will be a new experience for St Johnstone’s Cillian Sheridan on Sunday, but it’s one he’s relishing.
While he was still on the Parkhead payroll and loaned out to the Perth club and to Motherwell, the Irishman wasn’t allowed to line up against the Hoops.
Now he’s been farmed out to McDiarmid Park for a second six-month spell, this time by Bulgarian outfit CSKA Sofia, there’s no obstacle to his inclusion in the Saints team.
Sheridan said: “I never played Celtic when I was out on loan at St Johnstone and Motherwell because that was one of the conditions of the deals.
“There were times when I sat in the stand and, to be honest, I preferred not to play because if I’d ended up scoring the winner against them and it cost them the league that would have been hard. When you’re on loan I think it’s best you don’t play against your club.
“It’s different this time and hopefully I’ll get picked. I’m dying to play and, if I am, I’ll be doing my best to score and help us get a result.”
He added: “It would have been Christmas time about two years ago that I last played at Celtic Park. Playing there as a Celtic player was great, but it will obviously be a different challenge being in the opposing team. The atmosphere is great and is up there with the best grounds I’ve played in.
“The highs for me were scoring for Celtic and playing in big Champions League matches like Manchester United at Old Trafford. Everywhere you go you see someone in a Celtic jersey so just to have played a small part in their history is very satisfying.Special memories”It was tough to get a regular game there with all the quality strikers who were at Celtic, but I made a lot of friends there and I owe the club a lot. I think everybody has special memories from their first club.”
Saints will be looking to channel their hurt at losing to Dunfermline last weekend into their performance on Sunday.
Sheridan said: “We were really disappointed to lose to Dunfermline and we’re desperate to get our first win. I’m sure when we get that win it will be a big boost for our confidence and we can take it from there.”
Meanwhile, Fran Sandaza is being considered for a first start in Sunday’s match. Manager Derek McInnes said: “Fran played an hour of a bounce game against Queen of the South on Tuesday and he looked stronger.
“We also worked him hard on Monday and on Wednesday. He’s certainly going in the right direction. I’ll make the call nearer to the game.”
McInnes is looking for a repeat of the performance at Celtic Park that nearly got Saints a 0-0 draw last season.
He recalled: “We came close that day and only lost very late on. We had all the qualities that you need discipline, organisation, fitness and intelligence. Those attributes will need to be shown again because everybody knows how tough a fixture this is.
“Some teams when they face the Old Firm take a rest when they get the ball. That’s fatal because you have to be positive when you get the chance.”