Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Clark happy to as competition
DUNDEE United hitman Nicky Clark says he’s happy to fight for his place and insists competition among Dundee United’s attacking ranks is good.
Starting in last weekend’s 4-1 defeat at Rangers, Clark played for the first time since being hooked at half-time in United’s 2-1 loss at Motherwell at the start of the month.
The Tangerines’ hitman hasn’t found the back of the net yet this year, with Lawrence Shankland hitting form and other options like Marc McNulty and Louis Appere preferred.
The 29-year-old admits frustration at being dropped but is hoping to be involved against Kilmarnock today as the Tangerines continue their top-six quest.
“It was frustrating. I was the top scorer but the gaffer’s got to make the decisions and he’s got to pick the team which he thinks is best and will get the result,” he said.
“For me personally, it was frustrating, but I just need to keep working hard. I definitely feel as if I’ve to fight for my place.
“I’ve said before that you need that at your club, you need competition for places.
“If you knew who was going to play every week, you’d just be like: ‘Och, it doesn’t matter what I do in training I won’t play next week’.
“We’ve got competition, we’ve got four great strikers at the club, two with international experience (Shankland and McNulty) and young Louis who’s done great when he’s played this season.
“It’s good to have that about the club and, hopefully, the four of us can score some goals before the end of the season.”
With McNulty grabbing a consolation at Ibrox and Shankland now on seven for the season,
Clark’s squad-leading eight-goal high is under threat.
However, he insists he is happy for his team-mates, particularly Scotland star Shanks as he aims to fire his way into Steve Clarke’s plans for Euro 2020 this summer.
Clark added: “I’m not sure how many Shanks has got – but I think he’s playing catch up anyway.
“If the two of us keep scoring, Sparky scored at the weekend and Louis as well and we can keep picking up three points then we’ll all be delighted.
“I don’t think Shanks cares how they go in. If it was tap-ins he was scoring he wouldn’t really care.
“I’m just delighted for him that he’s scoring, to be honest.
“With the Euros coming up in the summer and with him being in the previous squads, hopefully, he can score a few more and get that spot.
“If he keeps scoring, then Dundee United will have a chance of winning games and that’s important at this stage of the season.
“For him, personally, I’m sure he’ll have one eye on getting back into that squad and getting a spot for the Euros.”