Morgaro Gomis is hoping he did enough at Celtic Park on Sunday to convince boss Jackie McNamara he should be in the Dundee United cup final squad.
The midfielder was handed a rare start against the Hoops and produced an assured performance, with his manager saying afterwards: “Morgaro showed a lot of energy and was very good at breaking things up.”
However, the one thing Gomis has not been good at “breaking up” since he came back to United for his second spell at the club is the central midfield partnership of John Rankin and Paul Paton.
The Senegalese internationalist admits that the duo remind him a lot of the relationship he previously forged with Prince Buaben at Tannadice.
However, Gomis, who will forever be remembered as one of the club’s 2010 Scottish Cup-winning heroes, is just hoping that he can play some part in Saturday’s showpiece occasion back at Celtic Park.
He said: “I was delighted to get a start at Celtic Park playing on their big pitch. It has been a really hard season for me not playing a lot.
“Pates and Ranks have done really well though so I can’t really say much about it.
“They have a really good relationship when they play together, just like when I was playing with Prince when I was here before.
“It is not easy when you have competition like that. I just have to keep fighting for a place, working hard and see what happens.
“Hopefully I have given myself a chance now of playing a part in the cup final. Even if I don’t start, if I can come off the bench and help the team, then I will be happy.
“It should be an incredible atmosphere with the huge support we will have and hopefully we can bring the cup back to Tannadice like we did in 2010.”
Gomis rejoined United in October last year and while his family are settled in Dundee, he does not know whether he will still be at United next season.
He added: “My contract is up in the summer but I don’t know what is going to happen. I haven’t spoken to the manager but we will maybe talk after the cup final.
“My girlfriend and my little girl are happy in Dundee so we will see.”