Dundee United midfielder Scott Fraser has joked that his manager got it spot-on when he described his skill level as “unbelievable.”
United boss Ray McKinnon was singing the praises of the talented 21-year-old, adding: “Scott has as much ability in that left foot as I’ve seen in any football player.”
That was high praise indeed from former United, Nottingham Forest and Aberdeen man McKinnon, who was well known and respected for his skill with the ball during his playing career.
As expected, the words earned Fraser plenty of stick from his Tannadice teammates and he had a broad smile as he reflected upon the compliments.
“The gaffer has said a lot of nice things about me and, of course, they are all true!” he laughed.
“Seriously, though, it is great to hear that a manager has that sort of faith in your ability and I have loved working with him.
“He has told me what I need to work on but he has also let me go and play as well, so it has been really enjoyable.
“I’ve got a bit of freedom to try and affect the game anywhere I can.
“The lads in the dressing-room have been giving me plenty stick about what he said.
“Some of them have been asking if we are related!
“But that is just good banter and it’s up to me to work hard and try to live up to the things he has said.
“I have had a few folk mention that, on a personal level, I look like a new signing and you can say the same about some of the other lads, too, this season.”
McKinnon certainly wasn’t piling the praise on Fraser and his pals after Saturday’s dismal display at Ayr.
However, everyone at the club has been left in no doubt that standards must be raised for the match at Raith Rovers tomorrow.
Fraser said: “We are looking for a better performance this weekend but with the same outcome.
“Raith are a good side and they will make it difficult for us, so we will have to play at our best to get anything there.
“We didn’t go too much into what happened against Ayr because we won the game 1-0 and you will get games like that.
“I thought it showed a good side of us because last season if we had dropped our standards like that we would have been battered.
“But even though it didn’t happen for us against Ayr, we still managed to grind out a win and that’s massive.
“Defensively, we are sound and that helps the attacking players in the team because you have total confidence in the guys behind you.
“The overall confidence level is high this season because we’re on a 12-game unbeaten run and that gives you loads of belief.
“We know that the lads are capable of grinding it out this season and so many people have told me we look a different team now.”
