Dundee United boss Jackie McNamara has urged Nadir Ciftci to acknowledge opponents are targeting him for special attention and to accept the “compliment”.
The Turk was substituted against Kilmarnock on Friday night, despite the fact the Tangerines were 2-0 down and trying to claw their way back into the game.
McNamara withdrew his star striker as he felt the 22-year-old’s frustrations could have boiled over.
Now, though, he has urged the front man to take the lessons on board and to channel his feelings in the right direction.
The manager said: “Nadir is always learning. He is still a young footballer even if he doesn’t look like one.
“He has to learn that, with the ability he has, teams are going to try to put him off his game. We saw it in the match with Hamilton where he got sent off.
“He has to use his frustrations in the right manner. That’s something we have been speaking to him about, and to be honest we can see a difference between him now and last season.
“It takes time, but he is worth it because with the ability he has, he is a target. You see opposition fans and teams try to get a reaction from him to put him off his game.”
When asked if Ciftci should take the special treatment as a compliment, McNamara said: “Yes, he should, but he is not at the moment as he is a bit frustrated.
“He was also feeling sorry for himself against Killie as he felt he wasn’t getting decisions.
“It is affecting him but he has got to channel those frustrations in the right way. For me, he is a real talent.”
Frustration was also a feeling McNamara felt as his side who went into the Killie game sitting at the top of the table produced a lacklustre performance in defeat.
He believes that for once, his team was second best when it came to rolling their sleeves up and putting in a hard shift.
However, he is now keen to move on.
He said: “I haven’t changed my views on the game. I just think they had more battling qualities which is disappointing as we knew we need to match teams first and foremost then we have a chance to play. We have to earn the right to do that.
“But it is just one game and I don’t want to be too critical about them and we will now look forward to the next game.
“We are always striving for more. We work with them every day and we know the qualities and ability the players have.
“So that’s the frustration, it’s not at them, it’s with them. They have to go out there every game and make sure they perform to get results.”
McNamara welcomed this weekend’s international break as it will give his players the chance to recharge their batteries.
There is also the chance the long-term injured, such as Mark Wilson and John Souttar, may finally be fit enough to make their return to the first-team squad.
McNamara added: “A few of the boys are carrying knocks from the weekend, so the break will give us a wee chance to get them ready for the Partick game.
“Ryan Dow has a groin problem and Mario Bilate has been doing a little running so hopefully he may be back with us next Monday but we will see.
“Mark Wilson is playing another game today (last night) for the under-20s against Hamilton, so we will see how he comes through that.
“It is like a pre-season for Mark and he needs games.”