FULL-BACK Callum Booth is aiming to shake off a niggling injury to make his European debut this evening (Thursday).
The St Johnstone defender had a season to remember last year as the Perth side won both the League Cup and the Scottish Cup.
Their reward is the chance to compete with some of Europe’s best and a clash with Turkish heavyweights Galatasaray in the Europa League third qualifying round.
Booth, who missed the league opener with Ross County through a thigh strain, spoke to Courier Sport before flying out to Istanbul.
He said: “What a game for my European debut as well – to be playing against an elite team like that who are well known round the world.
“They have such a good squad and hopefully I will make my European debut on Thursday.
“It is a good draw, a very tough game, but we are looking forward to the full experience of it all.”
The first leg of the contest is not being played at Galatasaray’s Turk Telekom Arena but instead at the city’s Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium, home of rivals Istanbul Basaksehir.
Galatasaray lost out to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League qualifiers and will now be looking to progress in the second tier of European football.
Booth, of Haddington, highlighted the strength of the Turkish side’s squad, which features former Ajax and Liverpool star Ryan Babel, as well as two-time Europa League winner and former Manchester United and Chelsea striker Radamel Falcao.
The defender said: “Even just to play in Europe would be great for me because it is something I have never done.
“It would be great to tick that off and play against a different team.
“We knew we were getting a big team because of the way the draw works but to get Galatasaray was probably one of the ones we were all wanting.
“It is a great experience and something that will be new to me.
“St Johnstone have been in Europe the last decade and some of the boys have played in Turkey but not the stature of Galatasaray.
“Supposedly their fans are notorious and well known for how hostile they are and how tricky they make it, especially in the heat over there.
“They are saying it is going to be 30C at kick-off time, which is something new for us to adjust to.”
St Johnstone qualified for Europe after their memorable cup double, which saw them defeat Livingston to lift the League Cup before knocking out league champions Rangers and then St Mirren and Booth’s former club Hibernian to clinch the Scottish Cup.
Booth, 30, was quick to acknowledge that matching those achievement was going to be difficult.
He said: “It will be near-impossible to do what we did last season.
“I would say we should be aiming for the top six.
“If we keep a hold of our squad – there’s been a lot of interest in a lot of our players – then we should have a good chance. We have got a great manager and a great squad of players at the moment. Hopefully, we can get a European run as well.
“We will see how it goes against Galatasaray and then we have got a second opportunity [the loser will go into the Europa Conference League].”
Hibs lost out to Malmo and Maribor during Booth’s time with the Easter Road side, although the former Knox Academy pupil did not feature in either encounter.
He said: “It is always something that I have wanted to do. In pre-season, you play against some foreign teams and you always wonder what it is like in a competitive environment.
“We are guaranteed four games at least in Europe and it will be brilliant.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here