The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Young Tangerines striker plays down talk of U21s call-up
Dundee United frontman leaving others to decide suitability after spirited performance at weekend
Young Dundee United frontman Louis Appere is taking a philosophical approach to calls for him to be capped at Scotland U21 level.
The exciting 20-year-old was on the scoresheet in the Tangerines’ 2-1 victory over Inverness Caley Thistle at Tannadice on Friday as Robbie Neilson’s men extended their lead at the top to 21 points.
U21s coach Scot Gemmill’s team face a crucial Uefa Under-21 Championship double-header against Croatia and Greece next month and Appere is certainly worth a look after a terrific first season for the runaway Championship leaders.
Appere said: “It is something that is out of my hands. I just need to concentrate on United.
“Playing well here and getting goals like the one against Inverness is the main thing for me.
“There is no point even thinking about it. It is not my decision to make. It is up to other people. What I have to do is concentrate on what I can do for United.”
Louis Appere will leave it to others to decide if he is ready for international duty.
The Dundee United frontman was back with a bang for his club on Friday night, scoring a brilliant opening goal as the Tangerines took a giant step towards the title.
His superb first touch and intelligent finish in the 2-1 home win over Inverness Caley Thistle had you wondering if, or rather when, the exciting 20-year-old would be wearing the dark blue of his country’s under-21 side.
Coach Scot Gemmill’s team face a crucial Uefa Under-21 Championship double-header against Croatia and Greece next month and Appere is certainly worth a look after a terrific first season for the runaway Championship leaders.
It looks like the logical next step in his career but the player himself is being philosophical about it all, happy to accept that whatever will be will be.
Appere said: “It is something that is out of my hands. I just need to concentrate on United.
“Playing well here and getting goals like the one against Inverness is the main thing for me.
“There is no point even thinking about it. It is not my decision to make. It is up to other people. What I have to do is concentrate on what I can do for United.”
Appere’s club boss, Robbie Neilson, is taking a similar approach to the whole call-up scenario.
The United gaffer said: “That is not for me to make a decision on that. There are a lot of good players at that level. I do think that he is getting better and better. He has a long way to go but he is showing real quality.”
Appere, of course, has an international inspiration close to home in the shape of senior Scotland star Lawrence Shankland, who bagged United’s winner against Inverness on Friday to put the title within touching distance.
The Perth-born attacker admitted that his game has been helped considerably by the man who has now scored 28 times for the Tangerines this season.
Appere added: “He has been great for me all season, really. He has been good to me and I have learned a lot from him.
“You see the quality he has, getting a goal almost out of nothing on Friday.
“It was another important goal from Shanks and it is great to have him as part of the team.”
Appere admitted the final whistle came as a “relief” on Friday night, with Inverness pushing United all the way in appalling weather conditions.
He said: “Previously, we had been playing OK in games but just not getting the three points.
“Against Caley Thistle, what it was all about was getting the lead to 21 points and we were delighted to do that.
“It was a relief more than anything to win the game. I don’t think it was the prettiest of matches to watch because of the conditions so to see it out was massive for us.”
As for his goal that started everything off, Appere said: “Instinct took over for me and I took the first touch without really thinking about it and then placed the ball in the corner.
“I had missed the last couple of matches through illness and injury but I felt good coming into Friday’s game and I am full of confidence now.”
Appere and his team-mates now have to stay calm and focused as they try to get promotion wrapped up as quickly as possible.
He stressed that they won’t be changing what has been a winning strategy.
He said: “What I would say is that we take pride in getting three points almost every week. We have had results that have not been good enough and not up to our standard.
“Even when we were on our losing run of consecutive wins, we didn’t mind it being a bit cliche and saying it was just about the next match.
“We have had that mindset all season and it has served us well. That will be how we approach the run-in.”
● Dunfermline’s game against Partick Thistle at Firhill was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.
● Alloa Athletic netted two late goals to complete a dramatic comeback in a 4-4 draw at Morton.
Kevin O’Hara and Robbie Deas were the Wasps’ heroes as their strikes lifted them out of the bottom two.
Queen of the South are now ninth, three points ahead of Partick Thistle.