Marcus Fraser would love another crack at European football with St Mirren after making his professional debut on the continental stage.
The big stopper was thrown into the Europa League spotlight 12-and-a-half years ago by Neil Lennon when he was a teenager at Celtic.
Fraser was just 17 when he replaced Glenn Loovens at half-time of the Hoops’ 3-1 victory over French cracks Rennes in Glasgow’s east end.
It was a major milestone for the dependable defender who has gone on to enjoy a successful career in Scottish football – closing in on almost 400 appearances.
The Buddies resume their push for Europe on Sunday lunchtime when title hopefuls Rangers rock up at the SMiSA Stadium.
Premiership points are the priority for both teams with Fraser determined to go the distance in the Euro race fuelled by magic memories of the past.
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The 29-year-old said: “I’d been out warming up when I got told to come in so I didn’t really have much time to think about it. It was just as case of out onto the pitch and off you go. I remember my first touch.
“The ball came to me and I just hit a clearance. The ball flew right into the stand and the crowd cheered. I remember thinking, ‘Ach, that’s not bad for putting a ball into the stand!’
“That’s the one thing I remember clearly, the rest is a bit of a blur. It was good, though, that I didn’t have much time to think about it.
“At that age, you don’t really have any fear or negative thoughts. It’s only now you look back and think, ‘Okay, that was quite a big moment’. I was only 17 at the time but at that time, you just think, ‘Let’s have it!’
“I hadn’t even really considered getting on the pitch before the game. Obviously there was a lot of injuries at that time so if I’d really thought about it, I should have known that if a defender had got injured during the match, it would be one of us young lads getting thrown on.
“It was brilliant for me to get the nod at 17 when the manager could have rejigged it and put a midfielder back there but he obviously saw something in me and decided to fling me in.
“I remember driving home with the music on full blast feeling on top of the world.
“But I think I made a league appearance a year later so it just shows you when the manager thinks you are ready or you need more time on the training pitch or there are other people ahead of you.
“I’m just grateful for having had the opportunity. I’m still only 29 so I’ve got a few years left as a footballer yet. But I know that winning things and opportunities like we have this season doesn’t come around often. You can’t take that for granted.
“When you get an opportunity to push for Europe, you have to realise that these chances don’t come around every single season and grasp it. That’s what I’m hoping to do now during these last five games.
“I can believe it [Saints being in this position] because I see every day the hard work that gets put into it by the staff and players. Everyone is together.
“If you don’t work hard, you will probably fall by the wayside. Training is a good standard and that’s what drives the success.”
Saints’ last foray into Europe came 37 years ago following their Scottish Cup triumph over Dundee United at Hampden. Fraser acknowledged: “It’s brilliant hear about the stuff from the past and you think, ‘can I be a part of that or better that as a team?’
“We do believe that in-house and we need to go and do it now. We have a big five games coming up, there are other teams in the mix, but we know what we need to do.”
Fifth-placed Saints are just two points clear of shock troops Dundee who face Celtic at Dens Park after the SMiSA showdown in what could be a key day in both the race for the championship and Europe.
Fraser knows Rangers will come out all guns blazing as they attempt to put the pressure on the Hoops by drawing level on points at the top before they kick-off on Tayside.
He added: “They are good, experienced players who know how to win games because they are used to winning. It’s up to us to find the right balance between trying to win the game and keeping the door shut at the back.
“It’s going to be a hard game but we know what we are good at and we’re back at home where our form this season has been good.”
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