Prince Buaben has claimed it is only a matter of time before the Dundee United midfield find their shooting boots again.
Goals have been few and far between for the United engine-room this season, with Morgaro Gomis’ cracking strike against Hearts at Tynecastle in August their sole contribution to the overall tally.
In fact, Gomis, David Goodwillie and Jon Daly are the only players who have scored for Peter Houston’s side this season.
Sean Dillon with two own-goals to his name is the next highest scorer.
Now Buaben has promised a shoot-on-sight policy in a bid to end the side’s reliance on their first-choice strike pairing for their goal threat starting against Hibs at Tannadice this Saturday.
“We have been trying to score more goals throughout the team since the beginning of the season, but sometimes things do not fall for you,” he said.
“I think David Robertson, Scott Robertson, Morgaro and myself are all capable of scoring, but we are not creating enough chances and we are not having much good fortune.
“I remember against Celtic I had a fine shot, but the keeper made a good save.
“I will keep trying to shoot on sight, and one day if it falls for me then I am sure the goals will keep coming.Own goals”We are also not having much luck defensively. If you go back to the Rangers game at Ibrox, there was an own goal and another two last Saturday at Motherwell.
“I was also unfortunate against Motherwell on Tuesday when my attempted clearance hit a post, then Morgaro in the face before falling for their player Alan Gow to score.
“But these things happen in football and we will just have to keep our heads up, score more goals and hopefully our luck will change as well.”
United go into the match on the back of a three-game losing streak, following defeats against Celtic and Motherwell twice.
That is their worst run of form since the end of the 2008-09 season when they lost successive games against Celtic, Hearts and Rangers.
Hibs are certain to pose a threat, with new manager Colin Calderwood looking for a big reaction from his players following their abject display in his first match in charge last weekend as they slumped to a 4-2 defeat at Pittodrie.
However, Buaben stressed that the United players have enough concerns about their own performance and losing streak to worry about what Hibs will do.
“We do not really mind who is in charge of the opposition it is all about us,” he added.
“They might get a lift from a new manager, but that does not concern us.
“All we are thinking about is getting back to winning ways again.”
United have Craig Conway, Scott Severin and Darren Dods struggling.
Wide man Danny Swanson is in their squad, but the extent to which he might be involved, if at all, depends on whether he suffers a reaction to training yesterday.
Boss Peter Houston hopes to have the option of calling on the player for half an hour from the bench.
Meanwhile, Hibs player Ian Murray believes both clubs have a lot to prove.
“It’s a big game,” he said.
“We know what a good team they are, and probably so far it’s the game of the under-achievers on Saturday.
“We can go up there and win we know we can go up there and win because we have won up there before. They are on a poor run, by their standards-hopefully we can come out on top.”
Colin Calderwood succeeded John Hughes as Hibs manager earlier this month, but could not halt the slide, losing 4-2 at Aberdeen in his opening game in charge.
Things could become worse for Hibs before they get better.
The United match is followed by the Edinburgh derby against Hearts, a midweek meeting with defending champions Rangers and a match against in-form Motherwell.Tough”They’re pretty tough fixtures for us,” said Murray. “But if we can manage to pick up something at the weekend then we’ll go into the derby full of beans, and we know on our day can beat anyone.
“There have been changes and it will take time, but in terms of getting up the league we’re looking to do that as quickly as we can we don’t want to be where we are.”
Murray has not played since August, having suffered from a lingering hip and groin problem.
The 29-year-old defender played in the Europa League qualifiers against Maribor and has made a solitary substitute appearance in the league this season.
Like all the members of the Hibs squad, particularly the 16 players out of contract at the end of the season, Murray is looking to impress Calderwood after returning to full training.
“The new gaffer has come in, he’s assessing everybody,” said Murray.
“I’m one of the lucky ones that’s got a contract.
“Maybe the previous manager didn’t like you and you had no chance (of earning a new contract).
“If he (Calderwood) doesn’t fancy you, you’re free to leave without any complications, and if he does like you, you’ve got a chance to get a contract.
“This is a chance for the young guys to impress-even the guys in the youth team.”