Dundee’s Jim McAlister is looking to produce more goal-scoring performances between now and the end of the season and hopefully persuade manager Paul Hartley to hand him a new deal at Dens.
The 29-year-old netted a late consolation counter against Celtic on Wednesday night, finishing off a sweeping move that began in the Dark Blues’ own half.
The midfielder hopes the goal will be the first of many but McAlister, who joined the Dark Blues in the summer of 2012, admits his future is still up in the air with his contract finishing at the end of the season.
However, he admits he would like nothing better than to be given a chance to extend his stay at Dens.
McAlister said: “The club haven’t spoken to me yet.
“They have tied up the likes of Bainy (goalie Scott Bain) and folk like that but they haven’t spoken to anyone else at this stage of the season.
“I have a kid on the way and I need to keep my options open.
“So hopefully I can turn in more performances like that between now and the end of the season, then see what happens.
“I would like to stay as I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here.
“There were the incredible ups of last year and the downs of the season before.
“But I would say overall, I have had a successful time here.
“Winning the Championship last season, qualifying for the top six this season and having played my part in most of the games has been fantastic.
“I was delighted to score against Celtic and you never know, sometimes in football two or three can follow and you go on wee runs.
McAlister added: “It was a great move and build-up to my goal.
“It was good football which is what the manager has been encouraging all season.
“It wasn’t the greatest finish from me but they all count.
“I saw the space and hoped no-one was going to match my run into the box. Fortunately enough, it went in.
“If we had scored five or 10 minutes earlier, you never know what might have happened.
“Even after the goal, we had a few balls into their box and they were sclaffing clearances and struggling to get it away.
“We were just looking for a half chance but unfortunately it never came.
“But we can take plenty of pride from our performance.”
McAlister and the rest of the Dundee squad have to put the Celtic defeat quickly behind them as they have a Tayside derby against St Johnstone to negotiate tomorrow.
The player admitted that the Dark Blues face a stern test against Saints as they look to get back to winning ways.
He said: “The boys have to pick themselves up for the game against St Johnstone.
“Having just played them a couple of weeks back, we know what to expect.
“We know how they play and hopefully we can come out on top this time.
“They have always been a tough side. You know how they are going to play. They don’t change that and it has been very successful for them, the amount of times they have finished in the top six and winning the Scottish Cup.
“Hopefully, we can take the standard of performance into the weekend and it will be enough.”