Mark Wilson admits he is feeling left out as his fellow full-back at Dundee United Andrew Robertson continues to rattle in the goals.
The teenager has netted five times this season for the Tangerines, adding two to his tally on Friday night against Kilmarnock.
Wilson is the first to admit he has never been exactly prolific in front of goal but he insists that Robertson has a distinct advantage, being on the end of the silver service provided by his team-mate and flatmate Ryan Gauld.
With United on a fantastic run of form, having scored 13 goals in their last three matches, Wilson insists he is just delighted to be in the starting XI.
The 29-year-old said: “It’s great to be part of. It’s so free-flowing and open. Everything has just seemed to click at the right time. We do so much attacking, teams seem to get swamped.
“I’m being allowed to push forward along with Andy Robertson at the other side, as we have the two sitting midfielders keeping things tight.
“Andy is doing great although I’m never that explosive myself in front of goal. Andy always seems to get the through passes from Gauldy! That is the difference. I think he only passes to his flatmate.”
Wilson watched one of his former sides, Celtic, dismantle Hearts last weekend, with the Hoops hitting seven goals without reply.
The defender admits he felt sorry for the Jambos players and their rearguard in particular and he recalled how he felt during his first spell at United when Rangers ran riot in the Scottish Cup.
Wilson is now looking to inflict more pain on the Edinburgh side, however, when they provide United’s opposition at Tannadice on Saturday.
He said: “It was unbelievable stuff from Celtic. Hearts will be hurting, of course, but I think that could have happened to anyone with Celtic in such form.
“By losing seven goals, it is going to make it difficult for us this week. I once lost 7-1 for United against Rangers in a Scottish Cup semi-final tie. That wasn’t great. You just feel embarrassed after it.
“You don’t want to face anyone. It’s surreal as well because everything just seems to go into the net. That’s how the Hearts boys would have felt on Sunday.
“You really don’t want to play the next game, it’s that bad!
Wilson added: “As a professional player, you don’t want to be losing, never mind by seven goals. I was a member of the back four that day for United and it was horrible.
“You felt as though you should take more responsibility because you were playing at the back and I’m sure that’s how the Hearts backline would be feeling.”
Wilson is expecting a much tighter defensive display from the Jambos on Saturday, especially as they will be incredibly wary facing a United side that is in such a rich vein of form.
He said: “We’re probably the last team Hearts would want to face given how we’re going right now. Hearts will now probably be working on certain things to try to nullify us.
“That’s how I think they’ll be looking at it. If I were a manager of an opposition team, I think I would be looking to employ tactics to stop us.
“It seems that if teams try and play open football against us, they get punished. That’s what has happened in the past few weeks so I think teams will definitely be looking to sit in a bit more against us.
“It is a great compliment for us that teams will be thinking of changing their tactics.”
Wilson was signed on a temporary contract in August by boss Jackie McNamara and the player is keeping his fingers crossed that he has done enough to convince the manager to extend his deal past next month.
Wilson added: “All I can do is keep playing well and trying to impress the gaffer. I want to stay fit and am lucky we’re playing so well.
“I would like to stay here longer as I’m really enjoying it. That is the aim but my agent is away just now, which makes it a bit difficult.
“I might have a chat with the manager, though, as my deal runs out in mid-January so we’ll see what happens.”