Mcnamara no regrets but a ‘little bit jealous’

There are no regrets and nor should there be. For starters, it was a decision he had no control over.

And more importantly, for his long-term career development, a return to Millwall has worked out better than Danny Mcnamara could have imagined.

Established in the first team of the club he supported as a boy, the right-back was voted young player of the year and now has the security of a longterm contract.

No regrets is one thing. No envy would be pushing it, though.

The Republic of Ireland international – who was on course to be a strong contender for Scotland’s young player of the year, never mind St Johnstone’s, such was his impact in the first half of the Premiership season – would have loved to have been involved in his loan club’s Betfred Cup triumph.

And he would love to be involved in their attempt to make it a cup double on Saturday.

“I think I had been on the bench in the early rounds of the Betfred Cup,” said Mcnamara.

“After I left I watched the other games (semi-final and final) at home.

“When they won the final I must admit I was a little bit jealous. I wanted to be part of it. I was sitting watching it with a pint or two. I was over the moon.

“And I’m jealous that they are in another final now. It’s fantastic and I hope they go all the way.

“The one that did it for me was the quarter-final the other week against Rangers. I take it the goal went down as Zander’s? I was going mad at the TV.

“St Johnstone making the final of both cups just shows what a club they are. Usually you would see the Old Firm there.

“It’s remarkable and they deserve it.”

Thank goodness things have progressed so well for Mcnamara in south London otherwise he would forever have been consumed with “if onlys”.

“It’s gone very smoothly and a lot better than I thought,” he said.

“I was expecting to go back to Millwall and play

five or six games. I was fortunate enough to get my debut early and impressed.

“I was out of the team for a little while but came back in and kept the shirt until the end of the season.

“I’ve loved it and didn’t expect to play this much.

“Being a Millwall fan, receiving young player of the year is just absolutely brilliant for me. It’s a dream. I was over the moon and it was great for my family as well.”

Mcnamara made no attempt to downplay the importance of Callum Davidson’s contribution to his development.

“Listen, without St Johnstone and Callum Davidson I probably wouldn’t be where I am now,” he said.

“Callum played me week in, week out and showed faith in me. It made me a better player. I can’t thank St Johnstone enough and the club will always hold a place in my heart.

“It obviously helped that Callum and Gary Rowett are good friends and had been at Millwall together.

“Callum was telling him how I was getting on.

“Without St Johnstone I wouldn’t have played or been called back this season.

“Every training session was of a high standard. Callum, Steven Maclean and Alex Cleland made sure that never dropped.

“I’m not surprised to see them doing well. The standards are so high and everyone learns a lot.

“Callum will be a very good manager at a high level.”

Moving to a different country in the middle of a pandemic and then seeing his flatmate Tanto Olaofe depart could have been a recipe for homesickness for a young man looking to make his name in the game.

But Mcnamara fell into the right football environment and the right domestic one.

“I settled in quickly,” he said.

“The lads are the main reason for that.

“I had great neighbours opposite me, too. They were St Johnstone fans.

“The guy opposite was bringing over food for me about three times a week. Top quality food.

“You know what, like I was at home.

“It was a club flat so I think the neighbour knew the Saints lads use it.

“Luckily enough I got really friendly with him and his wife. It was like a mum and dad for me.”

Shaun Rooney was the main beneficiary of Mcnamara’s premature departure.

It’s no slight on the 22-year-old – far from it – to say that it didn’t exactly work out too badly for the Perth club.

This has been an “everyone’s a winner” story.

“Shaun was class with me,” said Mcnamara.

“He was out the team for a while but he always kept level-headed and was always supportive.

“We would discuss things and bounce off each other.

“Seeing him do so well now is absolutely brilliant and I’m sure he’ll continue to do that.” really it felt

Danny Mcnamara “can’t thank St Johnstone enough”.