Keanu Baccus described himself as a bit of a gamble for St Mirren. If that is the case then the Paisley club look set to cash in big time.
Australia number two Rene Meulensteen reckons the World Cup starlet, 24, could be in line for a big-money move to France, Spain, English Championship or even to another Scottish club.
Stephen Robinson, meanwhile, is expecting to field calls from a host of suitors for his standout midfielder alongside a list of St Mirren stars in January.
It has been an extraordinary few months for the Durban-born competitor from sealing a dream switch to Europe in the summer, a painstaking wait for visa clearance, to earning his fifth Australia cap in the round of 16 in Qatar against Argentina and becoming the first Buddies player to appear at the World Cup.
“I realise now it’s all about timing in football,” said Baccus. “You could say I timed my move perfectly. “Credit to everyone here involved in that and credit to the Australian coaches for seeing it. It seems a bit surreal but I’ve worked hard and I believe I deserve to be here.
"It is special. It's an amazing feeling to be in the history books for St Mirren. Big credit to St Mirren for bringing me here, an Aussie boy they hadn't seen too much. It was a bit of a gamble for them and for me, leaving home and my family. It has all worked out so well. A big thank you to everyone at the club, from the top right to the bottom."
While Robinson would rather shut off his phone in the coming months and lock the doors to the SMiSA Stadium as to avoid any outgoings – he sold the move to Paisley to Baccus on the possibility of international recognition and future career progression. The St Mirren boss hasn’t hidden the strategy to buy low and sell high at the club – and Baccus could be the latest beneficiary of performing in the shop window in Scotland and on the international stage.
“Back in Australia we don’t get the exposure you do over here,” said Baccus of his decision to up-sticks and head to Scotland from Western Sydney Wanderers. “Football is very quiet. We’re still only the third sport, which is pretty sad because look what we can do at the World Cup.
“The gaffer here explained it like this, ‘If you came here and hit the ground running then that could open doors for you’. I probably didn’t realise the potential here because I’ve never been to see European games live before and experience it.”
Ambitious Baccus isn’t shy in his dreams and is desperate to follow in the footsteps of Australian icons Mark Schwarzer and Tim Cahill – who he met in Qatar - and one day play in the English Premier League. But that’s not to say he’s in any rush to leave St Mirren.
"It is a dream of mine to play in the Premier League. That would be massive,” he said. "Of course as any player does, you have dreams of playing at the highest level to help your family and sort them out too.
"You think about it but it just fuels you to do well for your club. That's what I've learned, you can't think too far ahead because it can affect you on the field.
"You take it game by game and enjoy every game. I've enjoyed my time here a lot. I love everybody here at the club and I've just got to keep doing well here."
