Dundee United defender Garry Kenneth has admitted being well below his best for all but a couple of the Tannadice club’s opening SPL fixtures.
The Scotland international is determined to cut out his fluctuations in form and to maintain the standard he achieved against Rangers on Saturday.
Kenneth, who picked up a thigh strain in the first half against the league leaders but should be fit for the visit ofInverness Caledonian Thistle, said: “I was happy with my game at the weekend but I feel as if I’ve only turned up twice this season at Tynecastle and against Rangers. Now I’m looking to get a bit of consistency.
“I don’t know why the consistency hasn’t been there so far. All I know is that I haven’t performed well enough apart from in those two matches that I mentioned.
“It’s something I have to work on. If I’m going to be playing every week I need to maintain a high standard.”
The United side has a youthful look about it these days, making Kenneth one of the senior pros.
He said: “I’m 24 now. There’s only about five or six boys who are older than me so I’m classed as one of the senior players now. I know the manager’s looking for me to help out some of the younger players.”
Kenneth believes there are promising signs that his partnership with new signing Gavin Gunning will be an effective one.
He said: “Me and Sean (Dillon) had a partnership going for most of last year so it’s not easy to form a new one quickly.
“For the first couple of games you’re getting used to how the other man plays, but we’re sorting that out now and hopefully we’ll become a good combination.
“He’s the type of character who would settle in well at any club.”
Kenneth revealed that Gunning reminds him of one former team-mate off the pitch, and another on it.
He observed: “Gavin’s a great lad but he’s got a screw loose. We’ve just replaced Goodie really! He’s that sort of boy laughing and joking all the time.
“His goal celebration at McDiarmid Park showed what a character he is. I think you call what he did the chicken run.
“He’s got a laid-back style about him during games like Webby (Andy Webster) and he carries it off well, just like Webby. Hopefully it continues because he’s made a very good start.”