Jim Goodwin sees no reason why Sam Dalby can’t still be at the top of the Premiership scoring charts come the end of the season.
The on-loan Wrexham striker has proved to be something of a revelation for Dundee Utd and his impressive eight league goals haul has seen him muscle in front of the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Cyriel Dessers and Vaclav Cerny. Goodwin reckons if they get the green light to keep the 26-year-old at United for the rest of the season then he will get the ammunition to keep his hot scoring streak going.
Goodwin confidently stated: “I don’t see why not. I think in terms of the league we create some of the most chances out of all the teams in the league. I think when you look at the stats, we’re right up there in terms of goal-scoring opportunities and touches in the opponent’s penalty area.
“We play a certain style of football that definitely suits Sam and suits the likes of Louis because we create chances for them. They are very accomplished strikers and can more often than not take the chances when they come along.
“That would be a hell of an achievement for Sam if he was able to do that. Its still very early days obviously but we’ll keep going, keep trying to supply him with the opportunities and the form he’s in right now you would back him to score nine times out of ten.”
Dalby has never hit double figures before in terms of league goals. Goodwin doesn’t think it is any coincidence that he is likely to burst through that with that at United.
His manager explained: “I think this is the most consistent run of games he’s had in a team for a long, long time as well. “He knows the faith that we put in him and the trust that we’ve got in him. “Speaking to him in the summer about bringing him up here, I explained to him that I thought he would do really well. “I thought he’d be a big success in Scotland. “He had a few options down the road in England. “He could also have sat at Wrexham and waited for his opportunity there but he’s backed himself coming up here and he’s getting his rewards for it.”
Dalby had found himself out of the picture at Wrexham and is out-of-contract in the summer. Goodwin would love to do something more long-term although Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson admitted in general terms that he was keeping a close eye on all his out on-loan players with a view to next month.
Goodwin hopes nothing will change on the Dalby front. He explained: “Obviously got a lot of confidence at the moment from his performances and from the goals. He’s a big player for us and will continue to be going forward.”
Meanwhile, Goodwin has praised David Babunski for putting his shoulder to the wheel for his injury-hit midfield. Goodwin acknowledged: “David is a really important player for us, obviously. He sets a really good example during the week in training with his whole attitude and his professionalism and everything else.
“He’s been a really key player for us this season. “I think the problem that we have got at the moment is that one or two of those boys in the middle of the park are having to knock their pan in game after game after game.
“We don’t have a huge amount of options centrally with Docherty and Sibbald being out. We’re asking a lot of certain individuals.”