Wonder strike gets Appere nod of approval

Dundee United frontman Louis Appere was quite happy to let the “best I’ve seen” overshadow his first Premiership goal.

A smiling Appere also claimed an assist for Lawrence Shankland’s 53yard wonder strike despite his pass being delivered just inches from the halfway line.

The 21-year-old joined everyone else inside Tannadice on Tuesday in looking on in amazement as Shankland floated the ball over St Johnstone goalkeeper Zander Clark’s head to earn a 2-2 home draw for Micky Mellon’s men.

It stole the headlines from him after what was an extremely good first goal in the top flight that had given United an early lead.

Appere didn’t seem to mind, though.

“Of course I’ll be claiming the assist,” he said.

“To be fair, I’ve seen Shanks do that before in training sessions.

“He will just ping them from the halfway line. He has hit them clean like that before but I’m glad he did it in a game – what a finish.

“It is as good a goal as I’ve seen in my career – it’s got to be. In fact, it’s probably the best I’ve seen.

“I had a good angle on it as well, a great view. It was a fantastic hit and he caught it perfectly.

“I would probably have rather scored his than mine.

“There was nothing I could do about him overshadowing my goal.

“I went into the St Johnstone game really looking to get a goal and I’m glad I got it so early on.

“I’m just looking to kick on from here now.”

Setting aside the Shankland chip, there was frustration in the United camp in midweek at, as they saw it, two dropped points at home.

Appere added: “It ended up being a point when we were looking to get three points from that game.

“There have been a couple of matches like that, where we played well but just been a bit unfortunate to just get a draw.

“Hopefully, we can get that right at Hamilton.

“I think the last time we played Accies it was a similar sort of game (to the St Johnstone one), where we could have scored a few goals but ended up with a point.”

Appere’s Premiership campaign hasn’t been what he would have hoped for, with his game time limited thus far. However, he is now targeting a strong second part of the season.

“Everyone wants to play as much as possible and I just have to keep working hard,” he said.

“Through injury (to others) last week I got my opportunity to start and to show what I can do.

“I worked hard and we got a good point at Aberdeen and then another against St Johnstone.

“Hopefully, I have shown enough to keep playing.

“I suppose it is a learning curve.

“I am still young in my career and it is something I have not had to deal with before because last season I played the majority of the games.

“I just had to keep my head down, do what I can do and wait for my opportunity to be ready when it comes.”

There is an upside to having such intense competition for places at Tannadice, with Appere able to learn from the likes of Shankland, Marc Mcnulty and Nicky Clark, who has just agreed a new deal with the club.

He said: “It is something I had done with Shanks and Nicky, and now Marc has come in.

“I am just learning what I can and trying to improve my game.

“I also know there are strengths I want to use when I get the opportunity.

“We have three other brilliant strikers and it is good to learn from them.”

If United can see off Accies today they will move 12 points clear of the Lanarkshire side.

Appere said: “It will be a tough test but we need to match that and hopefully our quality can shine through as well.”

Hamilton head coach Brian Rice hopes his players get the chance to “not celebrate” a goal in their game with United.

Rice revealed the club have reiterated to their squad they should tone down goal celebrations amid rising Covid-19 cases.

Clubs have been reminded of their responsibilities by the SFA and SPFL’S Joint Response

Group with regard to coronavirus protocols, with players having to remain apart after scoring.

Rice admits it can be an instinctive reaction to celebrate together but insists they must all adhere to the guidelines to keep playing.

Rice said: “We’re going to ask our boys to do it, so we’re hoping we’ll get the chance to not celebrate.

“We’re hoping that we score a few goals and we don’t celebrate them.”

Accies club captain Brian Easton is back in the squad after missing Accies’ 2-0 defeat to Kilmarnock last weekend with a knee injury, as is defender Aaron Martin, who was self-isolating.

● United’s home Premiership game against Celtic will be shown live on Sky Sports.

The Tannadice match has been moved to Sunday March 7 with a noon kick-off.

JUBILANT: Dundee United’s Louis Appere celebrates his first Premiership goal with Nicky Clark during the game against St Johnstone at Tannadice Park on Tuesday.