The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Keatings looks at 2018 as time for ‘fresh start’
UNITED: Striker hopes to reignite Tannadice career by playing key role in title tilt
James Keatings’ resolution for 2018 is to make Dundee United feel like they have a new player in their ranks.
The Tannadice frontman made only his 11 th start of the season on Tuesday, scoring the team’s final goal from the penalty spot in a 4-1 home win over Brechin City.
With United having been battered by bleak injury news over the festive season, losing both Fraser Fyvie and Scott Fraser for the rest of the season, they could certainly do with a refreshed and revitalised Keatings hitting top form.
The player admits he hasn’t exactly set the heather on fire since joining the club in the summer, due to battles with both injury and illness.
Now, though, he is determined to play a major part in the challenge for the Championship title.
Asked if it was a case of new year, new start for him, Keatings replied: “That’s definitely the way I am looking at things.
“I am not going to deny that the first few months at Dundee United haven’t gone the way I wanted them to go.
“You can see people have obviously been frustrated by that but nobody is more frustrated than myself, knowing what I can do on the park.
“I have just not managed to do it. It has been stop-start for me but I came into the new year with a positive mindset.
“I just want to kick on,” added the former Hibs, Hearts and Hamilton man.
“I want to play football, be happy and enjoy it again. To be quite honest, I have not really enjoyed it up until now.
“That is because I have not been on the pitch much, haven’t been scoring goals or leaving the park with a smile on my face. I want to be doing all those things in 2018.”
Even the build-up to the City clash wasn’t a smooth one for Keatings, as he revealed.
“I only managed to train two days in the past four weeks. Coming into the Brechin game, I obviously knew my fitness wasn’t going to be up to scratch. However, the manager believed in me and put me in there. I just gave my all,” he said.
That “all” included the penalty that rounded off United’s goal tally.
It was an important one because the Tangerines had missed a crucial spot-kick on Friday night as they went down 2-0 to leaders St Mirren in Paisley.
Tuesday’s penalty was won by striker Scott McDonald, who was fouled by goalkeeper Graeme Smith.
The Australian looked odds-on to take it, having already scored twice and, therefore, sitting on a hat-trick.
However, McDonald was hurt in the challenge and captain Willo Flood ensured Keatings go this chance, which he took without any trouble at all.
Keatings said: “Scotty was on his hat-trick but I asked him for the chance.
“It was Willo who gave me the ball and told me I was taking it. So all credit to both Scott and Willo for putting the faith in me.
“I was fully confident that I would put it in the net,” he added.
“So I was just glad I scored and contributed to the team. Scott has actually been very good to me. He always tells me to stop putting so much pressure on myself and just relax a bit and I will get back to where I was before.
“He knows I keep putting pressure on myself but it’s about relaxing and letting it happen, rather than trying to force it.”
The win over City closed the gap on the Buddies to three points, with United having a game in hand against Queen of the South to come yet.
They also have the Paisley side to play at Tannadice on March 3 so their promotion fate is still in their own hands.
Keatings said: “We were disappointed that we didn’t pick up at least a point or maybe the three down in Paisley last week. However, there is still a long way to go. We have a lot of injuries just now but they are part of football.
“The people coming in want to do a job and know what the job is – getting back up to the Premiership.”