Kevin Moon chases Hampden dream

Mar 25 2011 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

IT was barely 30 seconds ... but for Kevin Moon, the late call from the bench in St Johnstone’s Scottish Cup win over Brechin City was the stuff of dreams.

The highly-rated midfielder’s career has stalled for the past year as he battled back from cruciate ligament surgery.

So the unexpected name check on the teamsheet was a massive psychological boost for the home-grown playmaker.

And now, with Saints setting-up an April 16 Hampden date with Dundee United or Motherwell in their bid to re-write the club record books by reaching their first ever Scottish Cup final, Moon is eager to step-up his training and play his way into contention.

Moon, whose comeback was delayed by a slight strain, said: “It has been great just to be back involved in and around the changing room again.

“The manager told me he was thinking about putting me on the bench for the Brechin game and I was absolutely delighted to be listed.

“I believe I can put all the worries of the last year behind me. It has been a long haul but the gaffer has been great with me. All the hard work felt worth it when I stepped back out onto the park in midweek, even if I didn’t get a kick of the ball!

“It just shows what I have been through when a short appearance as a sub gets me buzzing. I’m told I got a great reception from the fans but the adrenaline had kicked-in and I didn’t even hear it.”

While the rest of the squad get a weekend off, Moon plans to continue the hard graft to keep him on track for a regular place in the squad, with a new contract also in his sights.

There is also the matter of a another cup semi-final on the horizon.

As a Saints fan, he knows how much supporters desire going all the way in the Scottish Cup. Seven previous semi-finals in this competition have ended in disappointment.

Moon, who played for Saints in a League Cup Hampden defeat from Rangers, said: “It’s great to have another semi-final coming-up. That will drive on everyone. Being right back in the mix for that game has to be my target now.

“At the start of the season the manager said he had a squad here capable of winning a cup. That remains the aim.

“I have been to Hampden before and know what it’s like. This time it would be fantastic if we could get past the semi-final stage.”