Fran hopes SAS has a future

Oct 11 2011 Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

FRAN Sandaza is praying frontline partner Cillian Sheridan will be staying at McDiarmid Park beyond Christmas.

The Spanish centre has struck-up a productive partnership with the on-loan CSKA Sofia attacker and they already share 10 goals – or 11 if Sandaza has his way.

Former Dundee United player Sandaza, who was lured back north on a 12-month deal by manager Derek McInnes when his time at Championship outfit Brighton turned sour, believes St Johnstone’s celebrated SAS hit squad could go from strength to strength.

But that will hinge on Republic of Ireland international Sheridan, who picked-up the PA Sport/Easy Heat Systems player of the month award yesterday after bagging four goals in three games, staying on in the New Year.

Sandaza, who continues to press his claim for a Scottish Communities League Cup goal wrongly awarded to defender Frazer Wright, admits the duo wasted no time in getting the chemistry right after their late arrival in Perth.

“We have 10, or 11 goals, between us. We have a good understanding out on the pitch,” he said.

“Our styles are similar but we both have an eye for the goal and that is good for the team.

“Sometimes you can be good players but if you don’t complement each other it can be difficult. It is very important to have a partnership.

“I have played with many good players but this could be my best ever partnership.

“Everything is working well but we might even get better. But I am happy with the way it is going right now!

“I played with Jon Daly at Dundee United. He is a goalscorer who is very good in the air and in the box.

“Cillian and I are similar and sometimes that doesn’t work for a team. But we are doing very well together.

“When I spoke to the gaffer to sign here he said he wanted a partnership up front.

“It would be bad if Cillian had to go away after Christmas but this is football. Maybe he will go back to Sofia. Maybe the gaffer won’t be here. Who knows what will happen?

“When I was at United and scoring goals everyone was saying I would be moving to a bigger club.

“But nothing happened. As a footballer you are better living day to day. If you think too much about the future you are not concentrating on the present.”

Sandaza, who will be cheering on Scotland in the Euro qualifier against his native Spain, is adamant that he should have seven strikes already – and that would equal Liam Craig’s tally for top scorer last season.

He declared: “That goal against Livingston was in the cup and the most important goals are in the league. But I am a striker and I want any goal.

“Some websites and papers say I have six goals and some say seven. I say I have seven.”

Sandaza, who was brought to Scotland by Craig Levein in his Tannadice days, will be eyeing-up former Valencia teammate and close friend Jordi Alba if he starts for the world champions against Scotland in Alicante.

He said: “I was playing with Jordi when I was in Spain. We were teammates in the Valencia youth team.

“This is his first international squad and I am so happy for him. I spoke to Jordi and he is very excited. A few years ago he was playing Third Division football in stadiums with 200 people.

“This will be a big game for him if he plays in Alicante. When Spain won the World Cup I was in Dundee, in pre-season training so I couldn’t celebrate with all my friends.

“Everyone was calling me from out on the streets and they were going crazy. It would be nice if Scotland had something to celebrate.”