DUNDEE STRIKER John Baird hopes his efforts will be enough to earn him a crack at league leaders Celtic tonight.
A year ago today Baird scored for Raith Rovers in a 1-1 draw with Ayr before turning his attention to a New Year clash with Dundee.
Now plying his trade with the Dark Blues, he finds himself competing with the SPL’s elite and he admits they do not come much bigger than the country’s reigning champions.
The 27-year-old spent most of October and November trying to fight his way back into the team after finding himself warming the bench more often than not, but Baird has risen to the challenge and now hopes to pin down a regular starting spot.
Asked about his return to the first team, Baird said: “I think that’s probably come from having a run of games in my normal position.
“A lot of this season, I’ve found myself in different positions out wide and in behind strikers but the gaffer has played me up top in a two and I think that’s how the form is starting to come together.
“Apart from the two months I was out the team, it’s been fine. I’m not one for moaning and wherever a manager wants to play me I would play, but with us back playing a two I knew I would get my chance and hopefully I would take it.
“I think my performances in the last few games have shown that I’m playing well and have shown I want to stay in the team.”
While Dundee have been adrift at the bottom of the SPL since the beginning of the league campaign, Baird believes his side have found their feet at a higher level and are more than capable of drawing the teams above them into the relegation mix.
“Nobody expects anything from us and I think that’s suiting us down to a tee,” he said. “I think if we can get results we can frighten a few more people.
“A couple of months ago people were saying we were out of it and you can see why. It was eight points and there was a game where it could have gone to 11 points, and to be honest if it goes to double figures it could have been difficult.
“But we clawed ourselves back into it, we’ve got a game in hand, and we’re not that far behind. A couple of months ago, the likes of St Mirren and Ross County maybe weren’t looking over their shoulder and they were maybe looking up the table.”
With Aberdeen due to visit on Saturday, it is an important few days for everyone associated with the Dens Park club.
Baird added: “I think it’s really good for the club the way the fixtures have come out, with Celtic and Aberdeen at home, so hopefully we’ll have one full house anyway and very close to it in the other game.
“I’ve never had a 7.30pm kick-off on Boxing Day before it means I miss out on two Christmas dinners, on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
“They’ve done me out of my mum and dad’s Christmas dinner, so I’ll be having mine on the 27th and 28th.
“Seriously though, it doesn’t matter to us we just get on with it and we’re looking forward to it.”
The Dark Blues will be without on-loan defender Lewis Toshney as Celtic are his parent club, while Nicky Riley and Iain Davidson will both miss out.
Smith is already without Davide Grassi, Mark Kerr, Stephen O’Donnell and striker Steven Milne so once again has major injury problems.
csmith@thecourier.co.uk