The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Switch to Tannadice has King feeling right at home
DUNDEE UNITED: Winger enjoying run in team as he seeks consistency
Dundee United’s Billy King insists he has finally found a club to call home.
The 23-year-old has endured a tumultuous two years as he attempts to recapture the form which made him one of Scottish football’s brightest young wingers.
He was tipped for the top after bagging nine goals and 15 assists during Hearts’ march to the Championship title in 2013-14, winning eight caps for the Scotland under-21 side along the way.
However, he found himself frozen out at Tynecastle on their return to the top flight and endured an inconsistent loan stint at Rangers before spending last season at Inverness, where he drifted in and out of the team and was unable to halt the Highlanders’ descent towards relegation.
King also had the challenge of adapting to living away from Edinburgh for the first time.
Having made the switch to Tannadice, he has returned to the capital, found regular football and is seeking the momentum which has been sorely lacking in recent campaigns.
“This is definitely the most settled I’ve been in a while,” said King.
“It’s different from Inverness, where I was living away from home. I’m able to live at home now in Edinburgh and that makes a difference.
“I’ve had a good run in the team, only missing one game this season, and I feel like I’m getting there.
“I’m still looking to get back to my 100% and I’m working really hard in training every day to do that.
“I want to get consistency, play as many games as possible and influence those games by getting goals and assists.”
Saturday’s 3-1 triumph over Dunfermline was United’s most impressive outing of the season, tearing apart a Pars side that went into the game top of the Championship.
“The win over Dunfermline was massive,” said King.
“It was a statement of intent and we want to continue in that manner.
“This season is going to be extremely difficult and people might think that one team is going to run away with it in the Championship but it’s a difficult league.
“I don’t think we’ve been playing to our potential, and it hasn’t quite clicked yet.
“But we are getting fitter and combining better. You saw that at Dunfermline where it did click at times and hopefully that can continue.”
This weekend will, however, bring a different test as United host the champions of Northern Ireland, Linfield, in the last-16 of the Irn-Bru Cup.
“Our main priority is to win the league and win promotion, but we will be going out to win the game,” King added.
“It’s at Tannadice and we want to put on a show for the fans.”
King was speaking at an event to promote McEwan Fraser Legal Solicitors & Estate Agents’ support for Dundee United, Dundee, Motherwell and Inverness.