Dundee boss Gary Bowyer has laid a challenge at the feet of his young stars, saying ‘we need more from you’.
That’s the message to the likes of Max Anderson after praising his first goal of the season in the 3-0 win at The New Saints on Friday.
Anderson has been a mainstay in the Dark Blues first team since breaking through almost two years ago.
The 21-year-old made 33 appearances in the Premiership last season under James McPake and Mark McGhee.
This term, though, he has found himself out of the team, recently an unused substitute.
However, he was back in from the start for Friday’s Challenge Cup clash and made the most of it, firing in Dundee’s third goal late on.
And his manager saw a bit of superstar in the finish, likening it to Kevin De Bruyne’s goal for Belgium against Wales on Thursday night.
“That will definitely give him a confidence boost. He’s needed it,” Bowyer said of Anderson.
“We’re really pleased for him.
GÔL | GOAL ⚽️
Anderson yn gorffen yn daclus 🎯 | Anderson finishes with aplomb 🎯@tnsfc 0-3 @DundeeFC pic.twitter.com/dbo2CwOfPV
— Sgorio ⚽️ (@sgorio) September 23, 2022
“It was a bit like Kevin De Bruyne’s goal last Thursday wasn’t it? A lovely ball from that side and he took it on first touch with his left foot.
“Hopefully he does move on from there.
“Because we need more from him, we need more from Ben Williamson, Fin Robertson.
“We need more.”
‘Keep improving’
That’s been Bowyer’s mantra for much of the season, even when results have been very much going Dundee’s way.
🎯🇧🇪 KEVIN DE BRUYNE
10' | Belg 1-0 Cymru #UEFANationsLeague pic.twitter.com/7jAf8sHsvn
— Sgorio ⚽️ (@sgorio) September 22, 2022
And despite seeing off the Welsh champions 3-0 on their own patch, the Dens Park boss wants to see improvement from his side in other areas.
Bowyer added: “We started the game really well. Again we had double figures on corners but never really capitalised on them again.
“That’s something to keep improving on.
“Friday was tough, though, and we knew it would be.”
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