Murray Davidson will feel the weight of expectation on his young shoulders tonight but he will also have his chest bursting with pride as he leads St Johnstone out for their Europa League qualifier in Turkey.
The Perth men face the daunting challenge posed by Eskisehirspor with the only thing more intense than the pressure being the temperature in this city.
Davidson will captain the McDiarmid men on this historic third venture into continental competition for the club, Steve Lomas’s team following in the footsteps of the men who hammered Hamburg in 1971 and mixed it with the millionaires of Monaco in 99.
It is an injury to unfortunate club skipper Dave Mackay that has handed the armband to Davidson but, as he reflected on what lies ahead for him and his teammates at the Ataturk Stadium, he declared he can’t wait to get things under way.
”This is my first taste of European football as a player and the whole team are really looking forward to getting in among it now,” said Davidson, who trained with his colleagues at the match venue last night.
”As captain there is more responsibility on me going into the game but as a football player that’s what you’re looking for. If you don’t want it you’re in the wrong sport and I’m confident I can cope with it.
”If I am honest even being made vice-captain for the season came as a bit of a shock because there are so many more experienced players in the squad. Dave Mackay is captain and it’s a shame for him he’s injured.
”Hopefully we can come back with a good result and he will be involved further down the line. There are four or five other potential captains in the squad guys who have been around the block a few more times than me. But it is a challenge that I am relishing.
”A lot of the captain’s job is off the park. Most teams nowadays have a few leaders. Everyone knows this is a big game and everyone knows their job so I won’t have to motivate them.”
Davidson has watched and learned the trade from former Saints captain Jody Morris, who has now gone on to join ex-McDiarmid manager Derek McInnes at Bristol City.
”Ever since I came to the club Jody has been a great captain, but obviously he has left for Bristol City and Dave is filling the role.
”You have to learn from players like Jody, with the level of experience he has both on and off the park. If you don’t you’ll never progress, so every day in training I was trying to pick up good habits from him.”
Tonight is another milestone in Davidson’s career, another box to tick.
”I have played for the Scotland under-21s and I have been in the Scotland squad. So this is another stage of my career. Since Hearts won the Scottish Cup and we knew we were in Europe everything has been geared towards this game.
”There has been a buzz about Perth and among everyone at the club. We came back early and pre-season has been hectic this year.
”To start with we didn’t know much about Eskisehirspor, but we know a bit more now. But just like in Scotland we have to concentrate on what we are doing and make sure we are 100% right individually, otherwise it affects everybody and we won’t get the result we want. We have to be organised and fully focused.
”We have to cope with the heat and we won’t be able to press the game for 90 minutes, and I’ve heard their fans can be loud. It’s all new for most of us but I can’t wait to get started now.
”We got a great welcome at the airport and I hear they are confident. That’s up to them and we will stay focused on what we do.”