In-demand Jamie McGrath insists his mind was set on getting three points against St Johnstone, not on leaving his Buddies behind.
Speculation about the influential St Mirren midfielder’s future has been rife in recent weeks, with English Championship side Middlesbrough the latest to be linked with a late swoop for the 24-year-old.
With the transfer window slamming shut tonight, Jim Goodwin revealed he’s desperate to hang on to his “best player” for the long season ahead.
McGrath revealed he put all thoughts of potentially leaving the club to one side on Sunday as he instead focused on helping his Saints pick up their first win of the season.
When asked if he thought the St Johnstone game could be his last in the stripes, he told Express Sport : “No, not at all. I don’t want to think like that.
“I just focused on getting the three points and we didn’t get it, so it’s a bit disappointing.
“I’m not really focused on it (transfer speculation), to be honest. Whatever happens will happen.
“I’m away with Ireland so I’m looking forward to that. That’s really what my focus is on, trying to get wins for St Mirren and meeting up with the Irish team.
“The call-up is an amazing achievement for me and my family. Growing up it was a dream as a kid and to be in amongst it again is amazing.
“It was an amazing experience the first time round and we play Portugal tomorrow night away which will be amazing.
“I’m going to relish it and learn as much as I can.”
While McGrath is hoping to pick up a second cap for Ireland against Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo and his fellow stars tomorrow night, the playmaker wishes he’d been heading into the international break having helped St Mirren seal all three points against St Johnstone.
He was happy to secure a first clean sheet of the campaign though, having come into the game on the back of a 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Celtic.
McGrath said: “Coming in at half-time I think we should have been in the lead, we had a good few
chances.
“We didn’t put them away and maybe they shaded it in the second half, so maybe a draw is a fair result.
“It’s a different game if you go in 1-0 at half-time, so we were kicking ourselves over that.
“I didn’t see the replay of the offside goal, but from the lads talking inside I think it was very marginal. Some days you get them, some days you don’t.
“We’re disappointed in our second-half performance, we never really got going, St Johnstone maybe shaded it.
“The aim was to keep a clean sheet. We shipped a lot of goals last week, so we had to set that right.”
