The 24-year-old picked up the Championship Player of the Month awards for both September and October after helping the Perth club to take the second tier by storm.

Fans of the McDiarmid Park club have also come up with a song – which they belt out to the tune of the Abba hit Dancing Queen on match days – to honour their new hero.

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“It’s quite funny,” said McPake. “A few of the boys have slaughtered me, but I like it. I never heard it at first then I saw it online. My missus has sent me a few videos of it.

“Sometimes she doesn’t come to the games, but she will watch it in the house on Saints TV. My daughter, who turned one on Monday, is confused about why I am on the telly and people are chanting my name.”

There have, however, been downsides to his sudden rise to prominence this term. Being the main man in Simo Valakari’s team has resulted in some overly physical treatment from opposition sides.

Speaking before the Championship leaders’ home league encounter with bottom-placed Airdrie...