Championship’s Houdini eyes up fourth promotion

opportunities will be where Keatings is judged in his time at Tannadice.

Last season despite not being a first-team regular, he grabbed eight goals in 30 appearances for Hibs.

That’s a tally he wants to improve on this season as he l ooks to add promotion No 4 to his CV.

He said: “When I was at Hamilton, I was a penalty-box striker but it changes wherever you go. You add things to your game and improve as a player.

“I feel I’ve done that the last two years — at Hearts I started taking set-pieces and getting more assists, felt I was linking up better and, at Hibs, I started playing the No 10 role and enjoyed it.

“Last season I was playing on the wings and as a striker, so I can play the penalty-box type but also play outside it and link up, too. Getting goals is the main thing, it’s what wins you games and, hopefully, I can get a few here.”

Signing for United before their playoff campaign had even started, Keatings wouldn’t have been sure what division he’d have been playing in when he turned up for the new season.

However, coming to United was the be all and end all for the striker.

“I was hoping they could get up to the Premiership but I wasn’t fazed about playing in the Championship again.

“I was just delighted I was coming to United to play for Ray McKinnon and whatever league we were going to be in, making sure I make an impact.

“The main aim is to get the club back where it belongs. It has to go up and we’ll all be focused on that.”

Keatings (right) won the Championship with Hibs last season.