I can’t expect to walk back into Utd team

LEWIS Toshney spent six weeks battling hard to recover from ankle ligament damage suffered when Dundee United drew at Hibs in early October.

But he knows his fight to resume his role as a key member of Ray McKinnon’s team will be ongoing.

Toshney returned to first-team duty as the Tangerines beat Dunfermline in the Irn-Bru Cup last weekend.

There was no easing himself back into the action and his performance was one of the energy and hard tackling that’s a hallmark of his style of play.

He accepts, however, that may not be enough to earn a starting place when United set out to make it eight competitive wins in a row as they travel to Morton tomorrow.

While Toshney has been on the sidelines, he’s seen too many good performances to believe he’s an automatic starter.

“I can’t expect to just walk back into the team,” he said.

“That’s why I played like I did at Dunfermline last Saturday, I knew I had to do my best to stay in there.

“And it’s also the sort of player I am. Winning tackles and stuff like that is my game and that’s what I set out to do.

“I needed to try to prove to the gaffer (Ray McKinnon) I was ready to be back in the team.

“The way the boys played when we beat Dunfermline in the league on the Tuesday night last week, I didn’t think I’d get back on Saturday.

“The gaffer decided to make changes and I did, so I knew I had to do all I could to stay there.

“But if he decides to change things back to the way they were in the league, I can’t grumble. I’ll just have to go again and make sure I am ready to take my chance when it comes.”

United are unbeaten in nine games now and, while the law of averages means that run must come to an end at some point, Toshney believe fierce competition in the squad means it can be extended for a good while yet.

“We need to hang on to that winning mentality to keep it going