No Clark horse
Boss Fox knows all about ex-United striker’s quality
LIAM FOX is determined Nicky Clark will not come back to haunt his former club tomorrow.
The striker left Dundee United to join Tayside rivals St Johnstone at the end of last month on a three-year deal.
Clark has already made his mark for Saints – netting on his debut against St Mirren – and the 31-year-old former Rangers frontman is now set for a quickfire return to Tannadice.
Fox knows exactly the threat he poses, with the hitman having spent more than fours years at the Tangerines.
But the 38-year-old insists his full focus is on his team as they bid to bank their first league win of the season and climb off the foot of the table.
Fox, in the Tannadice home dugout for the first time since being appointed permanent boss, said: “Clarky was brilliant for the period when I worked with him at the club.
“His attitude is great, he is clever and he scored some big goals. The players are fully aware of what Clarky brings. He was offered an opportunity somewhere else with security of a longer-term deal.
“That was the main driving factor behind it. I understand it. It makes sense to me.
“But any player who goes back to their old club wants to win firstly and they also want to score.
“Clarky is a striker and he is no different – he wants to score and win games. We will need to be aware of that.
“But it is not about Nicky, it is about making sure we perform and hopefully take three points.”
Another striker giving Fox plenty of food for thought is Sadat Happy Anaku. The 21year-old had an impressive 32-minute cameo coming off the bench in United’s last game before the international break, a 2-1 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox.
And Fox admits the Ugandan has forced his way into the reckoning for the Saints match.
The gaffer said: “He’s come into my thinking but we have to be careful we don’t pin too much on his shoulders.
“He is still adapting to the league and our culture. But he made an impact at Ibrox and he is training well.”