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JASON SCOTLAND admits he spent his first year at St Johnstone waiting for Dundee United to call him back to Tannadice. His ambition may no longer be so specific, but the desire to showcase his talents at the top level remains undiminished. Saturday's Tennent's Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic provides him with the perfect stage.


It has been a convoluted journey for the striker to return to Hampden Park. Almost exactly two years ago, he came off the bench at the venue to turn United's Scottish Cup semi-final against Hibernian, scoring the winner that set up a final against Celtic. Yet the nature of that intervention underscored a problem.

The majority of Scotland's 60 appearances over two years at Tannadice were as a substitute. When the club attempted to renew his work permit with the Home Office in July 2005, they were rejected. United were incensed and Scotland was left distraught.

He returned to Trinidad to ponder his future before, in a baffling twist of bureaucracy, he was granted a work permit to join St Johnstone in the first division, six weeks later.

There is gratitude towards Owen Coyle, the McDiarmid Park manager, for helping him restart his career, but the signing was no act of charity. Scotland's 25 goals this season have been an integral part in St Johnstone reaching the last four of both major domestic cups while maintaining a challenge for promotion.

That thriving potency is the reason why Birmingham City, who could be in next season's Barclays Premiership, have joined several SPL sides in casting envious glances towards the 28-year-old.

The fading disappointment of his forced eviction from Tannadice has allowed his ability to flourish.

"I think I'm over it now," said Scotland. "For a year afterwards, I was thinking of how to get back to United because I had a lot of love for the club. They were the ones who brought me over to Scotland and made me feel so welcome.

"I really thought I would get a shout to go back there. It was so disappointing to have to leave, but two years have passed now and it's time to move on.

"There was also the fact I wasn't getting enough playing time at United. Dropping down a division has been a good stepping stone for me because I have been playing every week with St Johnstone. This season has been better than the last one, so it's been very positive that way.

"Obviously, I have been doing something good if people are taking a look at me. But I just want to keep on scoring goals. If that happens then it follows that bigger clubs will take an interest.

"The game at Hampden is a big stage because it's being broadcast on Sky Sports across the world. It's not just me, every player in the St Johnstone dressing room will be fully motivated to show what they can do."

Scotland insisted only his inclusion in Trinidad and Tobago's World Cup squad surpassed the memory of his semi-final with United.

A similar impact will be necessary this weekend if Celtic are to be ruffled.

"My team-mates think the big games bring out the best in me, so maybe that's the way it is," said Scotland. "Sometimes when I get my first touch of the ball, everything just seems to flow."

His pride in being selected for his country did, though, have one unfortunate downside. Despite not playing a minute of Trinidad and Tobago's three games in Germany last summer, Scotland believes he has been afflicted by a touch of World Cup burn-out.

"I was hugely disappointed not to get on in the World Cup because I went there full of confidence," he said. "But just being part of it was still a great experience.

"I think I feel a bit fatigued now and maybe going to the World Cup is part of that.

The players who didn't play trained every morning. It was heavier work than the guys who had played, because they wanted everyone to be at the same high intensity of fitness." The saddest aspect of Scotland's recent return to prominence was the racial abuse he suffered from a small section of Motherwell fans during St Johnstone's quarter-final victory at Fir Park. Again, though, the striker can see positives from the unequivocal condemnation that followed.

"The incident didn't really affect me," he said. "It was the first time it had ever happened to me in Scotland, and it put a spotlight on the issue. That could end up being good for players coming here in the future."