The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Anderson hungry for starting place
Dundee midfielder Max Anderson hopes his supersub appearance at Partick Thistle last week has convinced boss Gary Bowyer to return him to the starting XI against Raith Rovers today.
The Scotland U-21 international has struggled to nail down a regular place in the Dark Blues team this season.
Anderson has yet to complete 90 minutes this term and has started just once in the Championship since the Dark Blues faced Raith Rovers on August 6.
However, Bowyer described Anderson’s display in last weekend’s 3-2 victory at Firhill as his best of the campaign.
That saw Anderson grab an assist for Cammy Kerr’s winning goal and now he’s keen for another chance against Raith this afternoon.
“If the manager thinks I did well then that’s brilliant but I just try to do my best for the team,” Anderson said.
“I would say it was one of my better performances.
“I’ve been in and out of the team and have come on as a sub a lot this season.
“I have struggled for starts but there is a lot of competition for places.
“We have a good group and there are a lot of midfielders.
“We are competing every day in training and it pushes the standard up.
“Even getting on the pitch as a sub can be difficult so when you get on, you just have to try to do what you can in the time you get.
“I have been trying to build my performances and play my best every time I get on.
“There have been games where I have gone on for maybe 15 minutes and you touch the ball five times.
“So I have just been trying to get on the ball as much as I can to show what I can do.”
There is no sitting around moping for Anderson when he’s out of the team.
Instead, the youngster is keen to draw tips from as many sources as possible.
His parents Stephen and Diane have been key influences and so have the likes of Scott Robertson, the club’s head of youth, in passing on the experience he picked up during his career as a top central midfielder.
“I see it as a challenge,” Anderson said of his bid to get back in the Dundee team.
“I say that to my mum and dad, it is just about learning from this. In your career, you won’t play every game so I need to learn, to cope and overcome.
“I speak to my mum and dad quite a lot about my football. They keep me grounded as well.
“I am lucky to still have that support so when there are challenging times and you haven’t been in the team, it is good to be able to speak to them about it.
“It gives you another perspective as well.
“I still stay with my mum and dad but there have been a few subtle hints to push me out the door!”
Anderson added: “I also speak to the coaches at the club. There is tons of support everywhere.
“They have brought in so much more even in the last six months.
“Robbo (Scott Robertson) is really good to speak to about the position and tactics, stuff like that, because he has been there and played that position at a high level.
“He thinks more like a midfielder so if you have anything to say, he can challenge it which is good.”
Raith will welcome Ryan Nolan back from injury, but the Irish defender has a task on his hands regaining his place as Rovers have conceded three goals in their last six matches.
Ethan Ross and Jamie Gullan trained yesterday and were to be assessed before deciding if they will make the match-day squad.
Boss Ian Murray knows that whoever he has available, it will be a tough challenge for his players.
“Dundee have got good individuals, they’ve got a really good manager and they’re starting just to tick along a little bit now,” he said.
“They will have wanted more wins, like all of us, but they’ve got that knack now of resilience. Not a lot of teams can go 2-0 down and suddenly come back and win the game 3-2.”