Managers always hate their up-and-coming players being compared to big-name stars, arguing that it puts unnecessary pressure on a youngster at a vulnerable stage in his career.
Remarks about how so-and-so has a similar style to this international striker or how he reminds you of that world-famous midfielder and usually booted out of the park by his boss.
The response is usually peppered with words like ”ridiculous” and ”unfair” by the person whose job it is to keep his precocious youngster’s feet firmly on the ground.
However, what happens if the compliment is paid by 1000-plus fans at full volume in song? That is what happened to Dundee United winger Gary Mackay-Steven during the Tangerines’ 2-0 win over Hibs at Easter Road on Saturday.
The moment arrived in the 56th minute of the game after the former Liverpool youth had gone on a mazy run through the heart of the Hibs defence, bamboozling opponents before sending a shot over the bar.
Cue the chorus of: ”Are you Messi in disguise?”
Now given the brilliance of Barcelona’s little Lionel, as far as compliments go it’s unsurpassed if meant seriously. However, it was delivered tongue-in-cheek by a United away support just enjoying seeing one of their own bring skill and artistry to the game.
What it did do, though, is confirm Mackay-Steven’s position as a fans’ favourite and one of the most exciting prospects in the SPL. In the midst of all the Messi talk, he also displayed a maturity beyond his 21 years by having a laugh and putting it all into perspective.
”I didn’t realise they were singing that until the end of the game,” he said with a smile that suggested he heard quite clearly what was being chanted. ”Someone had to tell me! I guess it was nice to hear that they were singing that, though, and the fans have been great.
”It was a bad finish at the end of a good run but I like to dribble with the ball and that has always been my game. That is just the type of football I play. I enjoy myself when I am going the right way towards the goal.”
He was then asked if he would be watching Messi in action on TV later on to pick up some tips.
”I always watch Barcelona,” he replied. ”It is always nice to see what they are up to.”
After a first period that contained few chances and was a bit of a stalemate, United took control of the game after the interval. They ran Hibs ragged at times with their ability to retain possession and when their opener came on 66 minutes it was the least they deserved for their dominance.
Jon Daly held the ball up brilliantly just inside the opposition half before playing it forward to Johnny Russell. The young striker then curled a pass into the path of former Hibee John Rankin, whose shot was then parried by keeper Graham Stack. The rebound, though, bobbled towards Russell, who swept the loose ball into the empty net.
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Russell was also in the thick of it for Mackay-Steven’s goal that made it 2-0 to the Tangerines on 73 minutes. His pass sent the wide man clear up the left wing and Mackay-Steven ran on before firing a shot that was met by the hands of Stack but still squirmed over the line.
United then saw the match out with consummate ease.
”I think we knew ourselves that we didn’t perform in the first half the way we knew we could have done,” said Mackay-Steven. ”I thought Hibs shaded the first half and were maybe a bit unlucky to go in with it at just nil-nil.
”But we really got ourselves together after that. We knew we could get it going. We have a talented squad and we work hard on the training field to keep the ball. Once we got the first goal that gave us a lot of confidence and we played well after that and saw the game out.”
As for his goal, the new Scotland under-21 international said: ”I think it was a wee assist from the keeper but I’ll take that.”
The good news for the supporters who paid Mackay-Steven his compliment is that it seems they will be seeing him in tangerine for a while yet.
”I see my future at Dundee United,” he declared. ”They gave me my chance and I am really enjoying my football right now. So my future is here. I feel good, I feel fit and I am playing each week.
”With the team we have, I feel we can go places. We all have confidence in each other. It even goes through to the boys who are coming off the bench and have had to wait for their chance.
”There is a lot of talent at the club. Those in the side know they have to perform because there are people waiting to take their chance. We are a close-knit bunch and I think that comes out in our play on the park.”
United manager Peter Houston heaped praise on both Mackay-Steven and Russell while advising both to continue their development at Tannadice.
”They have exceeded expectations, the Mackay-Stevens and the Russells of this world,” said Houston. ”I don’t expect to lose them because I think the two boys know it wouldn’t do them any harm to stay where they are, get even better and learn the game.
”That’s not to say in the future they will want to move on to bigger and better things and I will be the first to push them out of the door if that happens.
”Johnny Russell’s not ready to move yet in 12 to 18 months he might be ready. As for Gary Mackay-Steven, we have given him a platform to see if he can handle the SPL and I think his performances prove it.”
Houston encouraged his players to be more positive at the interval.
”I had to give the boys a wee bit of a blast at half-time,” he added. ”After the first seven or eight minutes we played poorly and gave Hibs a couple of opportunities. I am delighted with the three points, though, and I thought the second-half performance was really, really good.”
Daly went off and required six stitches in a head wound, while right-back Keith Watson (shoulder) and midfielder Willo Flood (ankle) also left the park early. All three will be checked on when they report for training this morning but Houston did not seem overly concerned.
Hibernian boss Pat Fenlon, however, has numerous worries, after Dunfermline’s 1-1 draw with St Mirren cut their advantage at the foot of the table to three points with seven games remaining.
Fenlon, whose side lost 2-0 at Hearts the previous weekend, said: ”It’s probably the reverse of last week where we didn’t perform in the first half and did well in the second half. We have turned that on its head.”
Photo by Lynne Cameron/PA Wire