CHRIS Millar last night revealed his outstanding personal display in St. Johnstone’s historic win over Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday had been inspired by Spanish great Cesc Fabregas.
Miller was exceptional in the Perth club’s 3-1 triumph over their Glasgow rivals at the weekend despite not featuring in the first team in nearly two months.
The 34-year-old, who is in his testimonial year at McDiarmid Park, had feared he had played his last game for the Ladbrokes Premiership club after falling out of favour with manager Tommy Wright.
But he believes his commanding individual performance in central midfield against Rangers proves that he has a lot to offer St. Johnstone in the second half of the 2017/18 season and beyond.
Millar told how listening to an interview with Chelsea midfielder Fabregas had inspired him to scale the heights that he did in his team’s first league win at Ibrox since 1971.
“It’s been a tough season for me personally,” he said. “I’ve not played a lot of football. It’s been frustrating sitting in the stand watching.
"But I felt I played really well personally on Saturday as we did as a team. Going to a place like Ibrox and getting a win is really satisfying.
“I’m 34 now so I need to be playing games so that’s what I want to do. I don’t want to be sitting in the stand every week. I feel I’m showing in training and have shown in the performance against Rangers I’ve still hopefully got plenty of life left in me.
"The other week Cesc Fabregas was talking about how last year he wasn’t playing as much and this year he has been. When someone like that is talking about working hard and getting his head down in training it makes you think. That’s what I’ve been doing. It’s paid off.
“I felt against Rangers we were excellent all over the park. Defensively we were sound and the boys up top worked their backsides off. Then we caught them on the counter in the second half and we ended up winning comfortably.”
Wright revealed after the game that he had grown frustrated with Millar’s inability to finish games and had told him he would be better off seeking a move to another club.
But the player said: “That’s the manager’s decision and I respect that. But I feel I can offer this club – or any other club – something.
“I’ve never doubted my ability. There has been a lot said about my injuries and stuff. This year I’ve been available for so many games and I’ve not been playing.
“I’m 34 I need to be playing games. It needs to be here or if it comes to the crunch where I’m not playing games then I’ll obviously need to look somewhere else.
"Obviously I’m contracted to St Johnstone, I love the club, I’ve been here 10 years. It’s my testimonial year and I want to finish it here, but if I’m not playing games at 34 then obviously I’ll have to look elsewhere. But I went to Ibrox and lasted 90 minutes so I think that says everything."
Asked if he thought he had played his last game for St. Johnstone, the 2014 Scottish Cup winner said: "One hundred percent. I’ve been frustrated. People can say this and that but I’m one of the hardest working and fittest guys at the club in my opinion.
"I go in every day, keep my head down and work hard. At the end of the day I just want to play games. I’m absolutely delighted, the boys played brilliant, we got the three points and I’m back in the team – it was a great Saturday for me.
"The longer I don’t play then people will say ‘he’s finished’. Hopefully that performance showed there’s still plenty of life left."
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