Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Moult ‘happy and settled’
JIM Goodwin insists conversations regarding Louis Moult’s Dundee United future can wait – but believes the in-form striker is “happy and settled” at Tannadice.
Moult, 32, is just two goals away from hitting the 20-mark for the first time in his professional career as he helps to fire the Tangerines ever closer to promotion.
He has rippled the net five times in his last seven games – including a remarkable effort from the half-way line against Inverness Caley Thistle – and claimed Championship player of the month for March.
In short, the former Motherwell hero has proved that there is plenty of petrol left in the tank despite several years of horrific injury woes.
Moult is out of contract in the summer, but it would seem inconceivable that the Terrors will not seek to retain a proven Premiership marksman next term.
“I know Louis is really happy here, his family are settled,” said Goodwin.
“Hopefully, we can achieve what we want to achieve, and then we’ll have those conversations in the future.
“Getting to 20 goals was the target for Louis and Tony Watt. It’s good to have those guys firing on all cylinders because we are a team who do create a lot of opportunities.
“Strikers need the confidence of scoring goals and, once they start putting the ball in the back of the net, the belief is there.
“Everything else flows from that. Their all-round game in the last few weeks has been excellent, they have been a real focal point for us.
“They have held the ball up well and brought others into the game. Obviously with the chances we’re creating they’re capitalising on that.”
While thrilled with the efficacy of his attackers, Goodwin reckons United’s recent success has been built from the back.
After shipping four goals against Dunfermline and Inverness, the Tangerines have registered successive clean sheets.
“It has been a good couple of weeks but we’re not getting carried away,” added Goodwin.
“We have to keep doing what we’re doing.
“The clean sheets have been massive because I’m always confident we’re a team who will score goals.”
Meanwhile, Goodwin has predicted a “battle” at Cappielow.
The Terrors have an almighty incentive to claim all three points against Morton on Friday night following Raith Rovers’ 3-1 defeat against Airdrieonians on Tuesday evening.
United will move seven points clear of their title rivals with a win, piling immense pressure on Rovers ahead of a testing home game against Partick Thistle on Saturday.
But Goodwin is not allowing himself to look too far ahead; instead, focusing on a testing challenge in the west.
“We managed to get the job done last time, winning 1-0 there. We expect a similarly tough, tight game this week.”