Clark hoping for chance to kick on

DUNDEE UNITED: Free-kick trickery announces that attacker is back

Nicky Clark is ready to kick on after fooling everyone – including his Dundee United teammates – with a fabulous free-kick.

After the obligatory opening goal from star striker Lawrence Shankland, Clark chipped in with a cheeky set-piece on 27 minutes that squeezed in at the near post and left Dunfermline keeper Cammy Gill stunned.

It wasn’t just the goalie who was left bemused, however, with a group of United players bunched inside the box waiting on what they felt sure would be a cross.

It was clever stuff from Clark, who was scoring his first goal of what has been an injury-hit season for the former Pars player.

If you wanted to tell the world you are back then that was the day to do it and now Clark wants to play a fuller role in the Tangerines’ promotion push after this 2-0 victory over his former team.

Clark said: “I have done a lot of work on my free-kicks before and after my hamstring injury and have really been putting the time in on the training field.

“I really fancied my chances and, to be fair, I caught it sweet.

“I looked into the box as though I was going to deliver it.”

“As soon as I hit it, though, I knew it was going in at the near post, added Clark.

“Even if I did catch their keeper by surprise, I don’t think he would have got there had he realised what was happening.

“I had been discussing with Peter Pawlett whether or not to put it into the box or have a shot and I just decided to go for it. “Thankfully, it paid off. “We had a couple of bad results prior to this one but, personally, I’m delighted to be back in and hopefully kick on from here.

“I am feeling good fitness-wise. I played 45 minutes during the week for the reserves and got nearly 80 minutes here.

“It will take time obviously to get up to full fitness but I am definitely getting there.”

This was another fine United home performance following some dismal away form.

They have now won all five of the Tannadice league clashes and scored 20 goals in the process.

Clark added: “To be honest, I don’t think we can just rely on home form as we have to do the business away from home also.

“It wasn’t good enough against Ayr, Alloa and Queen of the South when we lost those three away games.

“We need to go and perform at these places.

“That has probably been our downfall but we know that.

“We need to work on it. I’m sure we will, though, and move on from here.”