Super sub Nicky Clark hopes he has done enough to earn a start against Inverness after helping secure a 1-0 lead for Dundee United.
Clark made a huge impression on the first leg of the Premiership play-off semi-final at the Caledonian Stadium on Tuesday.
Just as United appeared to be struggling to make their one-man advantage count against Caley Thistle, on came Clark for Osman Sow after 68 minutes.
Clark gave the side impetus and, 10 minutes after taking the field, he smacked a shot off the ICT post and Paul McMullan fired home the rebound.
It was a huge contribution from the former Dunfermline and Rangers man, who is looking for a play-off positive at the third time of asking after missing out in previous years with the Pars and Light Blues.
Clark said: “I was obviously disappointed that I didn’t start the game.
“However, we have a good squad and there are a lot of players at United.
“There is plenty of competition for places so when you get the chance you have to take it and show you want to play.
“As a sub, you also want to come on and make an impact and I felt I did that.
“I actually thought I had scored!
“I had a feeling that I might get a goal and was disappointed to see my shot hit the post.
“I cheered up when I looked around and saw wee Paul waiting to put it in the net.
“We knew it was going to be tough out there.
“We have played Inverness a few times now this season and they have all been hard games.
“Heading up the road we knew what to expect and we got the result we wanted.”
Clark has his own personal goal for the play-offs but he is also only too aware of what going up would mean to the Tannadice club as a whole.
He said: “This is my third time, having been there with Rangers and Dunfermline.
“I hope it will be third time lucky!
“We all know what it would mean to the club to go up – 100%.
“We also all know United need to be up in the top flight and that’s our aim.
“It has been our aim since the first day I came here.
“Our initial target was to finish top but obviously we didn’t do that so we now have to get through the play-offs.
“We are all well aware what it would mean to the fans and the club.
“We had 1,000 supporters up there on a Tuesday night and that’s brilliant.
“They paid a lot of money to back us and I’m sure they will be there to pack out Tannadice on Friday.”
Clark is still expecting ICT, who boast a formidable away record, to put up a fight at Tannadice tomorrow in the return match.
“We won the previous time we came up to Inverness but this was obviously more important,” he said.
“We can take confidence from those results, even though they put us out the Scottish Cup.
“They are good away from home. In fact, someone mentioned they have won their last five away games.
“So we know it’s going to be tough on Friday and we need to prepare well.
“Inverness will feel it’s far from over but we feel that’s the case as well.
“We must put a performance in for the second leg.”
