Blair Spittal insists he’s ready to help drive Dundee United towards second spot – and challenged them to win all three remaining games.
The Tangerines face form-club St Mirren at Tannadice today before welcoming Dumbarton to Tayside the following week and then finishing their campaign off in early May with a trip to rivals Morton.
Spittal is fit again having recovered from a recent ankle injury which sidelined him for almost two months.
And he knows finishing with a flurry and securing a hat-trick of victories would boost their promotion hopes as they bid to overtake second-top Falkirk, who lead them by a single point in the race for that coveted runners-up slot.
Spittal, whose featured in the Taysider’s last three games, said: “I’ve come back in and played a lot of games especially after being out for two months.
“It was difficult because that was my first real injury in football.
“I played three games in a week which was hard but I’d rather play than not, if I’m being honest.
“But it was really difficult coming back.
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“The physio said it wasn’t an injury where it’s going to heal just like that.
“It’s going to take time. I’ll feel niggles in it but it’s about feeling more reassured with it.
“I feel now I am confident when I do get knocks on the ankle, I can take them.
“The play-offs are sorted but we’ve got to try and get consistency into our game.
“A couple of wins on the bounce would be nice especially going into the play-offs now where confidence is key.
“We’ve got three more difficult games coming up.
“They’re not going to be easy but we’ve got to tackle them head on and try to get the three points in each of them.”
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Spittal expects a tough afternoon from Jack Ross’ resurgent side who’ve rallied in recent weeks to haul themselves of the foot of the table.
The 21-year-old midfielder said: “St Mirren are a bit of the form team in the league.
“They’ve gone on a good run under their new manager.
“But we know we’re a good side at Tannadice.
“We’ve only been beaten there once all season.
“So we’ve got to take that positivity and confidence into this game.”
Meanwhile, manager McKinnon hopes his promotion hopefuls can add a killer touch to their outfield play following last weekend’s 0-0 draw away to lowly Ayr United.
McKinnon said: “Our form has picked up again in recent weeks.
“So we can go into this game with confidence.
“We have been working on taking our chances in training.
“We have created a lot over the last three games and could have taken nine points if we’d taken them.
“But we’re good at home and this is a game we’re looking forward to.”
United star Willo Flood returns from suspension for the visit of the Buddies.