ST JOHNSTONE defender Jamie McCart admits getting out of Celtic was the best thing that could have happened to him.
The 23-year-old struggled to make an impact at Parkhead after coming through the youth ranks and ended up leaving the Glasgow outfit after making just one first team appearance.
Many might have been disheartened after leaving the club they had supported as a boy, but McCart has grown both in maturity and as a player since his Celtic exit.
Successful loan stints at Inverness and Alloa gave the centre back a grounding in the game and he would end up joining the Highland side on a full-time basis upon the end of his Celtic contract.
After starring for John Robertson’s side at the heart of the Caley Thistle defence in over 70 appearances, Tommy Wright then came calling to bring McCart to McDiarmid Park.
Since his move to Perth the towering defender has become a fan favourite and has built up a strong partnership at the back with Liam Gordon and Jason Kerr.
“I had a wee bit of a chance when Brendan Rodgers first came in, but I knew in my last year that I had to re-start my career in a way,” McCart told Herald and Times Sport.
“I needed to drop down and get playing time because when you are at a club like that the only thing that matters to other teams is how many first-team appearances you have. It was massively important for me to go out on loan at that point.
“That’s the thing, when you’re there your dream is to get in the first team. When that doesn’t happen you are sometimes a step behind everyone else at other clubs because they have been involved in the first team.
“It’s easy to say that when you are away from it. While you’re there the only dream is to get in the first team.
“If I could go back and tell my younger self anything it would be about the experience of getting out there and playing first-team games. You need to build a reputation.”
Tommy Wright was singing McCart and his fellow defender’s praises this week saying that St Johnstone have three of the best young centre backs in Scotland.
On the compliment McCart said: “That’s very nice coming from the manager. Hopefully we can build on that. We were speaking about that in the changing-room the other day – we are youthful in football terms.
“It’s about trying to get a consistency. Me, Jason and Gordy now know each other’s games inside out. You can’t underestimate the importance of the boys around about you though.
“The experienced guys like Craig Bryson, Liam Craig, Murray Davidson and Zander Clark behind us. It’s important you have these guys to lean on and I think overall we have been growing as a team.”
McCart made his St Johnstone debut against Celtic this time last year, but he does not remember the game fondly.
The central defender was introduced from the bench at half-time in a damage limitations exercise with his side 3-0 down. He did impress though with no more goals conceded in the second period.
“It was a strange one. I was thrown in at the deep end. We had a difficult start to that game and I came on at half-time,” McCart explained.
“From a personal point of view I feel I have been getting more confident. I had a short spell in the Premiership with Inverness, maybe eight or nine games, but I have had a consistent run here.
“I feel I am developing all the time, getting better and more confident in every area. The change in manager has moved the team in a different direction, there’s been a wee shift in terms of playing style.
“So I think for us the progression is now coming through in results. We have always had performances this season, from the first game, but I think the wins are now starting to come which is important to push us closer to that top six.”
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