Corey Panter has been the unknown man at Dundee this season.
Signed in the summer on loan from English Championship side Luton Town, the 21-year-old has been an almost ever-present on the substitute bench at Dens Park.
Though splinters are a thing of the footballing past, even Panter might be forgiven for feeling uncomfortable as he watched every game from the sidelines.
Sent north after signing new terms at Kenilworth Road, the defender made an early impact on first-team matters, scoring on debut against Forfar in the Premier Sports Cup.
And officially he got another goal in the Challenge Cup for Dundee U/20s, though that in fact went in off Callum Lamb.
‘Disheartening’
But no sign of him since that match in August until he started the Boxing Day clash at Aberdeen with the Dark Blues squad sorely stretched by injuries and Covid.
And Panter admits it’s been a “disheartening” experience at times.
“It felt wonderful to finally get a chance. It’s been frustrating over the past five or six months,” he told the Courier.
“But I keep doing all I can in training. Sometimes all you want is a little bit of a reward.
“Finally on Sunday it came. Being due to Covid isn’t the way you want it but it was good to get a chance.
“I did all I could and we’ll see what the manager says. Hopefully, he gives me another chance in the future.”
He added: “I’ve been on the bench most of the season, I was out with Covid for a little while but apart from that it’s been about keeping training.
“All you can do is keep working hard, show the right attitude and eventually a chance will come.
“It has been quite disheartening at times. But I try to keep my head down, try not to let things affect me too much.”
Guidance
With only 500 fans in attendance due to new coronavirus measures, shouts of encouragement from his more experienced team-mates were clear to hear during the 2-1 defeat at Aberdeen.
And Panter is grateful for their guidance.
Panter added: “I didn’t feel out of place. The standard of training here every day is very good so when you go into a match it’s not much different.
“The experienced lads help me a lot. If you make a mistake they are always there to pick you up.
“Especially Adam (Legzdins), he’s a top lad and always geeing everyone on, trying to help everyone out.
“Liam Fontaine was next to me and he’s got so much experience. He’s always talking to you, always in your ear.
“Just little things like ‘left shoulder’ or ‘right shoulder’. Playing with those kinds of players can only improve you as a player.”
