You could almost forgive some players for swanning back into the dressing room after shining at the World Cup with a bit of a cocky swagger.
But St Mirren skipper Mark O’Hara insists Keanu Baccus’ triumphant return to Paisley couldn’t have been any more understated.
If anything, the humble Australia star was left embarrassed after being cheered back into the fold by his Buddies at the SMiSA Stadium.
Like most Saints fans, O’Hara watched keenly on as his 24-year-old midfield partner took on some of the world’s best teams in Qatar, including both of this weekend’s finalists France and Argentina.
Far from bragging, if anything Baccus has been even more down to earth than usual, buying his team-mates coffee and bringing back a stash of official Socceroos kit from his travels to dish out as early Christmas presents.
O’Hara wasn’t surprised at all to see the Aussie underplay his return, revealing he’s been picking the former Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder’s brains ever since about his memorable World Cup adventure.
He told Renfrewshire Live Sport: “It’s great to say that Keanu has got no ego at all, which is pretty rare in football.
“He’s come back in here the same as normal, working as hard as ever. We had a bounce game against Kilmarnock and when he came in the dressing room that day everyone gave him a big round of applause.
“Keanu is such a humble guy, though, and he just looked embarrassed by it all. But it was more than deserved and I’ve just been eager to pick his brains since he got back on what he’s been up to.
“Obviously we all wanted to know what Messi was like up close during a game. From what Keanu was telling us, it seems he spent the 10 minutes after he scored strolling about looking for his family as the game passed him by.
“I suppose when you’re Lionel Messi and you’ve done what you’ve done in the game you’re entitled to do that!
“He didn’t need taking down a peg. He was straight back into training flying into tackles.
“He actually tripped me up the other day and left me with a big cut on my knee.
“A couple of days after arriving back he played in a bounce game we had against Hearts at St Mirren Park.
"He and I came on at half-time and all I could think about was how big a difference it must have been for him to go from playing against Argentina in a game watched all over the world to running out at an empty stadium.
“He brought back a a big bag of gear from the Australian camp, so we all got a polo or a pair of joggies. It was a nice memento.
“Unfortunately, people got in before me and ransacked the bag, so I got the dregs!
“There’s been some good stories and the main thing we’ve taken from it is the inspiration.
“He said the level wasn’t as big a jump as you’d think, so just believe in yourself and anyone can achieve that, so it’s definitely inspired me.”
Having been involved with the Scotland national team up until earning caps for the Under-21 side, O’Hara admits he still dreams of representing his country at senior level one day.
Current boss Steve Clarke has shown in recent years he’s more than willing to call players up at an older age, with the likes of Andy Considine and Saints team-mate Declan Gallagher both coming into the fold later in their careers.
Having just turned 27 on Monday, O’Hara believes he can still make the step up to the national team if he keeps performing on the park for the Buddies.
O’Hara said: “I would love to represent Scotland at some stage. I am an ambitious person and you have to strive to get there one day.
“Keanu did well at the World Cup and Ryan Strain has been in squads, so it can be done.
“I’m only just 27 and international recognition isn’t at the forefront of my mind, I am just happy to be doing well for St Mirren.
“Any player would love to play for their national team and if I can do well then I might catch Steve Clarke’s eye.
“Declan Gallagher didn’t get call up until later in his career and Andy Considine was the same. If you do well in the Premiership then you will get noticed.
“If the team is doing well then that helps, so if we can get into the top six then hopefully it will help too.”
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