King the perfect fit for a club that suits him in spades
Settled front man in fine fettle for derby challenge
AFTER suffering for a season as a spare part in a spluttering Inverness side, Billy King has already discovered being a key cog in Dundee United’s well-oiled machine is to his liking.
Ray McKinnon’s team approach the Dundee derby on the back of three smooth Betfred Cup victories, with King contributing two goals to the cause.
The 23-year-old struck only three times in the entire campaign last year — during a dire loan spell sinking towards relegation.
A goal against Celtic in September as Caley Thistle scored a surprise draw was as good as it got. As King laboured in a losing team, he completed 90 minutes in only four Ladbrokes Premiership games.
And when he was on the pitch, the relegation-scrap tactics under Richie Foran were torture for a wide man desperate to make an impact taking on defenders.
‘It was a tough season,’ said King. ‘I played most games at the start. There was a clear way he wanted to play. But, over the season, styles change when you’re not getting wins and something had to give.
‘The move ended up not suiting me well at all. There were similar attacking players to me there but, the way the games were going, it didn’t suit us. The style of play changed a lot as the season went on.
‘I’m the sort who needs the ball at my feet — not over my head. I’d maybe get one chance to run at a defender per game, which is nowhere near enough. I never really got amongst it and I regret that.
‘It was bit of nightmare. It’s a great club and I regret I never got the chance to play to the best of my ability there. We didn’t play well over the course of the season.
‘I was in and out of the team, getting injuries towards the end. It was hugely frustrating and made worse by not knowing what the future held after it either, not knowing where I was going to be.
‘It was really worrying towards the end of the season. So, as soon as United came up, it felt right.’
McKinnon was not at all discouraged by the former Rangers loanee’s struggles and stepped in to secure King on a two-year deal from Hearts.
Since settling into his new club on a welcome permanent deal, King has found the football McKinnon is committed to a pleasure to play.
‘As soon as I came here, I’ve liked everything I’ve seen — the facilities, the staff, the players, the style of play, it’s been great,’ he enthused. ‘They like to get the ball down and pass it, with three playing off the striker, and he lets us roam around, change positions, get the ball in pockets of space and get at defenders.
‘We’ve brought in Paul McMullan, who is similar to myself, and with Scott Fraser we’ve got a good understanding already of how everyone likes the ball.
‘Everything he’s saying I like and it suits me to a tee. Now we can’t wait for the derby. We’ve played well so far, scored nine, we’re in a good vein of form going into it.
‘This will be a different test, obviously with them being a Premiership team. But we’re going there with confidence.
‘I was struggling to find my fitness in the first few pre-season games but it’s coming back and I’m feeling sharper every day. A result would give us massive confidence for the season. Then I’m straight back to Inverness in the first league game of the season.
‘There are a few contenders for the title but we are favourites and we must embrace that pressure.’
King is now targeting a rare hat-trick for someone so young — a third second-tier winners’ medal with a third club. He made 31 appearances as Hearts ran away with the Championship in 2014-15.
The following season, discarded by Robbie Neilson midway through a top-flight return, he joined Rangers and helped them ease over the line and collect a Petrofac Cup for Mark Warburton.
‘I was only on loan at Rangers for four months but it was a great experience at a massive club, learning from a different manager and coaches,’ said the Scotland Under-21 cap. ‘I was grateful for it.
‘And it maybe would have led to something permanent if Hearts hadn’t wanted me back there.
‘But then it was weird because they put me straight out on loan again at Inverness.
‘I learned a lot in both spells, though, one way or another. But I do feel like I’ve been passed around a bit. So to have two years here, this is a place where I can play good football, settle down and really try to make a mark.’