Hungry Wolf is ready to hunt down his Scotland return
Brophy savages sorry United as Malky tips reborn striker for cap call
Malky Mackay is sure Eamonn Brophy can rekindle his Scotland career after the January arrival inspired County to a massive victory in the relegation fight.
The Wolf mercilessly preyed on dismal Dundee United with two goals and two assists as the Staggies carved a four- point advantage on the bottom side with one extra game played.
This defeat left Liam Fox’s Tannadice job hanging by a thread last night after six straight defeats in all competitions and eight league games without a win.
For County, a first home win over United since August 2015 looked like a watershed moment in a testing campaign.
Having borrowed Brophy from St Mirren for the rest of the season, Mackay spoke of his delight at the 26- year- old’s impact despite a lack of game time in the last nine months.
Asked if Brophy could add to his one Scotland cap, Mackay responded: “Absolutely. He’s still a young man and has something that a lot of people don’t have, which is an eye for goal.
“He’s got the ability to score different types of goals. What a strike the last one was.
“As managers, we are all crying out for centre forwards like that.
“I told him to come in here until the end of the season, give everything he’s got and we will see how he is at the end of the season.
“Who knows what the future holds – careers go up and down. But he’s been an absolute diamond since he has been here.”
Mackay also hailed County’s all-round team showing, adding: “I’m delighted with the display and result – and the way we started both halves because 2- 0 up is a dangerous scoreline.
“We could have got more but it’s an eight-goal swing between ourselves and United which is very important.”
It was the Staggies’ biggest league win of the season so far and they got off to a perfect start.
United’s recent performances have been strewn with costly errors. The damaging habit came back to haunt them again just inside six first-half minutes.
After a clearance from young keeper Jack Newman, the ball was launched back towards the away penalty area and bedlam ensued.
Newman, on his first start, strayed out of his position near the edge of the penalty area and became entangled with Ryan Edwards and Charlie Mulgrew as all three went for the ball.
Brophy sneaked away with the ball to the left but still had to pull off a magnificent controlled finish from the tightest of angles.
He struck the post from 20 yards soon after but dominant County did grab a second goal inside 14 minutes.
Brophy controlled inside the penalty area and flicked a pass back to Yan Dhanda who cut onto his right foot just outside the area and delivered a fine low finish into the left-hand corner.
The Highlanders all but killed the match as a contest with a lovely third goal after 62 minutes, with Brophy latching on to a dummy by Jordan White from Dhanda’s pass then crossing for White to glance home a header.
With 19 minutes remaining Brophy, from a long punt forward on the right, took the breath away with a stunning finish.
Steadying, he sent a right-foot blast swerving past Newman into the top right of the net for the home side’s fourth.