As any striker will tell you, there is no better feeling than seeing the ball hit the back of the net.

And for prolific goalscorer Kenny Deuchar, that is a feeling he knows all too well. The 27 year-old was a key member of Gretna’s squad that climbed from the Third Division to the Premier League. He scored dozens of goals and smashed club and league records in the process.

Deuchar was surprised as anyone then, at being allowed to leave on loan in September after just four substitute appearances in the top-flight.

He joined St Johnstone and his three-month stay in Perth was an inevitable success, with 10 goals in 14 appearances for the First Division Side.

As well as collecting the Irn-Bru Phenomenal Player of the Month award for November, he helped Saints to victory with a goal and man-of-the-match performance in the Challenge Cup Final against Dunfermline last month.

Needless to say, St Johnstone wanted to keep a hold of Deuchar and are likely to try to entice him back during the January transfer window.

But his return has provided a huge boost to Davie Irons’ struggling side and the ‘Good Doctor’ admits he is desperate to prove himself at this level.

“I’ve always maintained that if get an opportunity in a game, I’m likely to take it and if I’m on the pitch long enough, I’ll score,” he said.

“Obviously I wasn’t getting that chance earlier in the season so I had to go and do it somewhere else. I’m no different to anyone else in that I just want to play regular football.”

“I was disappointed that I was not given the chance to play, when I thought I maybe should have been playing. I love scoring goals but you can’t do that when you’re not on the pitch.”

“St Johnstone gave me the chance to do what I am good at and I really enjoyed my time there. It worked out well for both me and the club as I was playing and scoring on a regular basis.”

“But every player wants to play at the highest level possible and I’m no exception. Hopefully I can prove to everyone that I can score goals in the SPL. I have done it at every level I have played at so far and hopefully that will continue.”

The full interview is available in the tenth edition of Anvil, the offficial matchday magazine of Gretna FC. It also features an exclusive interview with Sheffield United defender Evan Horwood on his loan spell in Scotland.

With regular columns from Davie Irons, Mick Wadsworth, Paul Murray and Kenny Crichton, Anvil is priced at £2.50 and is available from sellers around the ground.

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