Lee Croft is determined to sign off his St Johnstone career on a high at Pittodrie.
Nothing will top last season’s Scottish Cup triumph for the Oldham Athletic-bound winger, but clinching fourth place in the Premiership with the Perth side would be another achievement to be proud of.
The former Manchester City man will return south with mixed emotions, but he is still hoping to have one last game in him as a Saints player against Aberdeen.
“We’ve done brilliantly in the league,” Croft said. “Especially when you consider we had that run earlier in the season when we couldn’t win a game.
“To come back from that and finish fourth and get into Europe again would be a great achievement.
“I definitely think we can do it. There’s a real confidence in the dressing room. All the boys want to make sure we do it.”
He added: “Obviously winning the Scottish Cup this time last year was a massive highlight.
“It’s definitely one of the best moments of my career. It was a brilliant day, and a brilliant weekend.
“The team that won the cup will always have a bond and I dare say there will be reunions down the years, which is a nice thought.
“The side is starting to break up. Dunney (James Dunne), Nige (Nigel Hasselbaink), Chris (Iwelumo)and Mayso (Stevie May) are already gone.
“It’s amazing to think that I’ve been part of the team that won St Johnstone its first ever trophy.
“Winning a cup wasn’t even mentioned when I arrived. I don’t think anybody expected us to do it because it had never been done before!
“We defied the odds and it’s just a shame that we didn’t defend it.
“I’ve loved living here and playing here, and I’ve made a lot of friends.
“I’ve enjoyed the Premiership and I’ll go back down south with fond memories.
“But it’s a new chapter now and I’m looking forward to going back to Oldham.
“The most frustrating thing has been not playing games recently.”
Saints, and Sunday’s opponents Aberdeen, have made enquiries about bringing May back to Scotland in the summer, but the Sheffield Wednesday striker is likely to stay where he is, according to his good friend Croft.
“He’s settled there now,” he said. “That will help, as will a full pre-season.
“I’m sure there would be a temptation to come back to Scotland but he will back his own ability, and he’ll want to have a good year next season and show everyone what he can do.
“He’s probably frustrated that he’s not had more game-time.
“But Mayso’s got goals in him.
“It might be a case of taking a season to bed in and then he’ll hit the ground running next season.
“We all know how good he is and I’m sure he’s got the ability to do it in that league.”