STEVEN FLETCHER | WE KNOW THE TASK AHEAD OF US

United talisman Steven Fletcher has hailed the impact of new boss Jim Goodwin and is adamant the extra time on the training pitch enforced by the international break will do the Terrors no harm heading into the final nine games of the season.

Watch Fletcher's press conference in full below! 

Mood Booster

Goodwin, now in post for almost a full month, has put the players through their paces with an arduous training regime to prepare them for a relegation scrap according to Fletcher.

"We’ve had the change in manager and that’s helped us with the way things are in training and the fact we’re getting points on the board.

"The mood has been great ever since he came in, albeit the results haven’t been great - he’s given everyone a lift. We’ve been enjoying the way things have been going.

"I think the break was good for the Gaffer. When he came in it was games one after another and he didn’t have much time on the training pitch, so the break has helped us get to know the way he wants to play and get to grips with it."

He added "It’s been a tough ten days. The gaffer could’ve come in and given us a few days off but we were in the frame of mind to say we wanted to come in every day and train."

Fletcher Echoes VAR Questions

The 36-year-old also was vehement in his criticism of the decisions which went against United the last time we took to the field. Fletcher opened the scoring against St Mirren with a stunning, early finish from 20 yards but a contentious penalty award from Craig Napier presented the visitors with the opportunity to leave with a point.

"It was frustrating. You don’t get a great view of the incident at the time and you assume the referee made the right decision because it all happens so quickly.

"Then when you go and watch it after the game you’re annoyed at the fact you’ve missed out on the three points but you don’t understand the reasons why.

"However, that’s in the past, we can’t dwell on it and have to look to the games ahead."

Shouldering The Responsibility

Sitting top of the tangerine scoring charts after 29 cinch Premiership matches, Fletcher sees hitting the back of the net as a duty rather than a burden.

"We’ve spoken about not relying on one person for goals in the past few weeks - the manager has said we need to get goals from other areas of the pitch.

"As a striker, it’s your job to score goals so hopefully I can do that between now and the end of the season."

Ready for Rangers

Our number nine admits United are the rank outsiders for this weekend's clash, but having played in some volatile environments throughout an illustrious career, he'll remain unfazed by the big occasion in Glasgow tomorrow afternoon.

"It’ll be a tough game, we know that, but the gaffer’s got his way he wants to set up and we’ve had a long break to work on it.

"When I came here I looked for the games against Rangers and Celtic. I missed the last one at Ibrox so it’ll be my first time playing there since coming back up the road and I’m looking forward to it.

"We’ve got to take each game as it comes. We need to go in with the belief we can take something from every game. We’ve got a task ahead of us to stay in the league."