Logan Chalmers is determined to cement a starting berth at Dundee United following a superb loan stint with Inverness.
However, the gifted winger admits he will be forced to consider his options if first-team opportunities remain scarce.
Chalmers, 22, notched five goals and one assist during a successful spell with the Caley Jags, helping to fire them to the Premiership playoff final.
Although Billy Dodds’ men ultimately succumbed to a galling 6-2 aggregate defeat against St Johnstone, Chalmers lapped up every moment of his time in the Highlands.
Now fit, firing and reinvigorated, he is keen to stake his claim at Tannadice at the start of next term.
💥 Another great strike from Logan Chalmers at the weekend pic.twitter.com/K3mSo6yfpH
— Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC (@ICTFC) April 11, 2022
“I’m at an age now where the main priority for me has to be playing games,” said Chalmers, who is contracted to the Tangerines until the summer of 2024.
“My aim is to go back to Dundee United and fight for a starting place.
“All I can do is go into pre-season, try to take my Inverness form into training and show what I can do.
“No-one can tell what the future holds but I’m still contracted to Dundee United and I really want to stamp a place in the United team.
“You look at that draw of European football — another massive achievement — and I’ll be giving everything to be part of it.’
Regular football
Chalmers featured just eight times for United last season prior to making the switch to Inverness.
That proved frustrating for the wide-man, given he was a bright spark during the previous campaign under Micky Mellon.
Indeed, Chalmers already boasts 40 senior appearances for United. He is no fresh-faced rookie.
“I wouldn’t say I’m getting old, but I look around the world and you see boys playing regularly at 17 and 18 years of age,” he added.
“It’s not just for football reasons — it’s confidence, morale, fitness; I need to be playing football. Hopefully that’s at Dundee United.
“If that doesn’t happen, then that’s a bridge we’ll cross closer to the time.”
Platform
Although Chalmers describes Inverness’ 4-0 defeat against St Johnstone as ‘devastating’, his reflections on the tail end of the campaign are nothing but positive — and exactly what he needed.
“It was a brilliant loan spell for me, from the moment I joined Inverness,” he added.
“When I nailed down my place in the team, the confidence started flowing and I managed to chip in with a few goals.
“Every player — but especially attacking players — will be judged on numbers; goals and assists. When your confidence is low and things aren’t falling for you, that can be difficult. Especially if you aren’t playing as much as you would like.
“Then, when you are playing and the belief is there, all of a sudden things drop and the goals come.
“As soon as I scored my first, I kicked on and I can only thank everyone at Inverness for giving me that platform.”
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