I’LL HELP US BACK TO WHERE WE BELONG
Fired-up Gomis targets top-flight return for United – and a new deal
MORGARO GOMIS insists he has returned to Dundee United a better player and is determined to lead them back to the Premiership “where they belong.”
Gomis, 33, has signed on until the end of the season for a third spell at Tannadice that also reunites him with boss Robbie Neilson, his manager from a two-year stint at Hearts.
The France-born Senegal midfielder has been in Malaysia and Oman since leaving Hearts in 2016 but cut short his deal with Sur Club to rejoin United.
Gomis, who is fit enough to make his debut against Dunfermline this afternoon, said: “I’m hoping to get promoted to the Premiership and play as many games as I can.
“That’s all I want, to help get the club back to where they belong. I always wanted to come back to Scotland and in the back of my mind when I was playing abroad I was always looking.
“I know the manager. I got in touch and he asked me to come in and train to see how I was physically. He’s a good coach and
DUNDEE UTD v DUNFERMLINE
his training methods are the same as when we were at Hearts and I really enjoyed it.
“It’s the same here, it’s still Dundee United but we’re not in the right division and we’re hoping to put that right soon.”
Gomis won the Scottish Cup in 2010 during his first spell at the club before leaving for Birmingham a year later.
Following his release there, he returned to Tannadice in October 2013 before joining Hearts in 2014. Asked how he had changed in his time away from the club, Gomis said: “I’m better!
“I’m more mature, I’m more composed on the ball than I was before and I feel like I’m a better player physically as well.”
Joining new signings Aidan Nesbitt and Cammy Smith, Gomis raised the prospect of a longer contract and added: “If we can get promoted and the club are happy with me I will definitely stay.”
Meanwhile, Smith has told fans they’ll see the real deal at Tannadice after only catching a glimpse last time around.
The 23-year-old made the move from St Mirren to Tayside on a two-year deal this week – two years after a short-term spell with the Tangerines while at Aberdeen.
Smith said: “This time it’s a permanent deal and I really feel like I’m a United player now.
“It’s good to have the length of deal that I can hopefully show what I can do. I showed it in glimpses last time but hopefully I can really help the team.”
Neilson admitted he was thrilled to land the playmaker who helped fire St Mirren to the Premiership last season.
The United gaffer said: “Cammy will bring us real attacking intent. He can create and score goals and he has the experience of winning the Championship.”
Smith is expected to make his debut against Dunfermline, who will have new boss Stevie Crawford in charge for the first time.
And Pars skipper Lee Ashcroft insists his team can’t wait to make a fresh start.
Ashcroft said: “The aim of reaching the play-offs at least hasn’t gone away.
“We have gone through some sticky patches this year so far and we know that has to change.
“All the boys are confident we can put a run together and get ourselves up there challenging. “The season hasn’t gone the way we hoped but there are a lot of points left to play for.
“We want to start a new chapter at Tannadice. The aim is still to get ourselves up there and get promoted.
“It’s never easy when a manager leaves but when someone new comes in all the players want to impress. You want to make a statement and make sure you’re ready to play.
BY IAN ORR
“A lot of the boys are looking at it as a fresh start and maybe especially for the ones who haven’t been playing.”
Ashcroft admits the exit of Allan Johnston, the boss who brought him to the club, was a blow but believes Crawford will get a good response. He added: “I have known Allan for a long time so it’s sad to see him go. We know we should have done better. “We need to get the finger out and push on now. This is a chance to show the new manager what we’re capable of. “It won’t be an easy game. If we can start the match well then we believe we can get the win we want.”