The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Juniors stint helped Appere make grade
Loan spell with Broughty has set up striker for Premiership test
Louis Appere had a dream debut campaign.
Now Dundee United’s hottest young talent is ready to test himself against the Premiership’s finest.
It’s a far cry from 12 months ago when Appere found himself on loan at junior side Broughty Athletic, worried he might never break into the United first-team.
Since then he’s been on an amazing ascent which has seen him score six goals in 33 appearances, pick up a Championship winners’ medal and get called into the Scotland Under-21 squad.
Naturally, that has put him on other clubs’ radars, but the 21-year-old attacker insists he is happy at Tannadice and looking forward to seeing what he’s made of in the top flight.
“I’m looking forward to next season because it’ll be a step up,” Appere said.
“That was our aim and now we’re going to be there so I’m ready to test myself against those teams.
“I just want to play like I did last season, without fear, be direct and hoping to see how I handle it. The Hibs cup games were a good test. Celtic and Rangers ones will be the standout – they’re exciting games for any young player wanting to play in front of big crowds.
“I’m really happy here and, as far as I’m aware, I just want to be at United.
“My first season was good and the fans have been great with me which really helped.
“Right from the first game they were singing my name and that really boosted my confidence. They’ve been good with me.
“I love it at United, it’s perfect for me and I’m excited for next season.”
It hasn’t always been a smooth ride for the Fife lad – at the club since 2016 – and he admits at one point he thought he’d never make the grade with the Tangerines.
He reflected: “It’s the dream, isn’t it? You sign for Dundee United but then after a couple years I hadn’t really broke through at all into the first team.
“When I went to Broughty (Athletic) it was a period I thought: ‘This could be it, the dream could be ending soon,’ but I never gave up hope.
“How could I not think like that when you’re going to the juniors on loan? I probably did think that was the end for me at Dundee United.
“I was keen to go out on loan and play more games that weren’t reserve games but when I heard it was the junior leagues I was worried, even scoring the amount I did there, wouldn’t impress the manager.
“That was my worry, I would ask the reserve coach at the time, Craig Easton: ‘Is the manager going to be interested in me and watching me when I go here?’
“He assured me he would and he was. He was always asking how I was getting on and that was reassuring.
“That helped me stay motivated to keep going and give it a last try and it went well there.”