I’m a FREE spirit
United kid Kieran says his Easter Road strike was the best moment of his life after THREE YEARS of injury nightmares at Southampton
DUNDEE UTD KIERAN FREEMAN went three years without kicking a ball competitively as his Premier League dream was wrecked by a recurring injury nightmare at Southampton.
Little wonder then the 21-yearold Dundee United defender was milking every second of the latest landmark on his long overdue breakthrough at the top level.
Few could begrudge him his wild celebrations as he put the seal on the Terrors’ dismantling of Hibs with his first league goal for the club in 13 appearances.
Freeman hailed his 74th-minute strike in front of the large travelling Arab army – who were by that point already in party mode – as the greatest moment of his life.
And when you consider his big move to the south coast of England at just 16 was ruined by two ACL ruptures and a meniscus tear in the space of two agonising years, it is easy to see why.
Freeman said: “I went a bit crazy. I just love playing football and I want to be playing on this stage every week.
“I had too much time to think about the shot, I squeezed it in and then ran away crazy.
“I should probably have milked it a bit more! With all those fans there, it’s probably the best moment of my life.
“Just screaming and smiling at the fans and seeing the same on their faces was great. It makes the hard days worthwhile. Not that I’d want to do that again.”
Those dark days arrived just weeks after Freeman left United’s academy, having been lured south by the offer of a professional contract at St Mary’s at 16.
In a cruel twist of fate the youngster was ruled out for nine months after suffering an ACL rupture on the day his international clearance for Saints arrived.
A luckless Freeman returned the following summer, only to break down with a meniscus tear in training, sidelining him for another three months.
However, that was nothing compared to the devastation a repeat of his original ACL injury brought as the youngster tried to get his Southampton career up and running for a third time. Freeman’s Premier League hopes were dashed without him getting close to the first team. But a second chance offered by United last year, aided by a successful season-long loan at Peterhead, has finally seen the rapid right-back catch a break. And with the Terrors riding high in third spot after Saturday’s thumping win in Leith, the defender is loving every minute under Tam Courts at Tannadice. Freeman said: “Just to get that love of waking up on a
Saturday knowing it was matchday, I hadn’t had that for three years, so it did wonders for me playing at Peterhead last season under Jim McInally.
“Those three years out were dreadful. You just learn to go in and enjoy doing physio – you have to, otherwise I dread to think what mental place I’d be in.
“But I can tell you one thing, I much prefer Saturdays like that one than those three years ago.
“The gaffer puts me in the team and all I can do is try to do my best.
“I could try to get an assist and a goal in every game but I’m realistic – it’s not going to happen
Screaming and smiling at the fans and seeing the same on their faces was great
every week. I’m just delighted to be back playing. To come here and get three points is a good statement and if we can finish this quarter with a few more wins, then it will be excellent.”
Few would bet against United doing just that after a thoroughly professional performance put Hibs to the sword, inflicting their first home defeat of the campaign.
Courts’ side were hungrier, sharper and more clinical than their much-fancied rivals, who had racked up five clean sheets from their seven games in Leith.
Charlie Mulgrew and Ryan Edwards were outstanding again in the centre of defence and Nicky
Clark picked the perfect moment to nab his first Premiership goal of the season to edge them ahead with a minute of the first half left.
The home defence stood off Peter Pawlett and Ian Harkes, who teed up Clark to bend a brilliant 20-yarder low past keeper Matt Macey.
If the Hibs fans thought their jeers in the ears of Jack Ross’ flops as they trooped off would spark a second-half fightback, they were sadly mistaken.
Seven minutes after the break it was 2-0 as Edwards thundered home a towering header from Scott McMann’s cross after Hibs had failed to properly clear a corner. Freeman rubber-stamped back-to-back victories for United, which saw them surge into third, just three points off leaders Rangers, with a brilliant third.
A quick throw on the left caught out the napping home defence and Ilmari Niskanen’s cutback found the unmarked full-back in acres of space to fire beyond Macey.
Freeman said: “The gaffer has a way of playing and game by game we are trying to implement that more.
“All of us just love playing football and winning games.
“We don’t need to set limits or anything. It’s just about taking care of ourselves.”