I can’t expect to walk back into Dundee United team says Toshney

Lewis Toshney spent six weeks battling hard to recover from ankle ligament damage suffered when Dundee United drew at Hibs in early October.

But he knows his fight to resume his role as a key member of Ray McKinnon’s team will be ongoing.

Toshney returned to first-team duty as the Tangerines beat Dunfermline in the Irn-Bru Cup last weekend.

There was no easing himself back into the action and his performance was one of the energy and hard tackling that’s a hallmark of his style of play.

He accepts, however, that may not be enough to earn a starting place when United set out to make it eight competitive wins in a row as they travel to Morton.

While Toshney has been on the sidelines, he’s seen too many good performances to believe he’s an automatic starter.

“I can’t expect to just walk back into the team,” he said.

“That’s why I played like I did at Dunfermline last Saturday, I knew I had to do my best to stay in there.

“And it’s also the sort of player I am. Winning tackles and stuff like that is my game and that’s what I set out to do.

“I needed to try to prove to the gaffer (Ray McKinnon) I was ready to be back in the team.

“The way the boys played when we beat Dunfermline in the league on the Tuesday night last week, I didn’t think I’d get back on Saturday.

“The gaffer decided to make changes and I did, so I knew I had to do all I could to stay there.

“But if he decides to change things back to the way they were in the league, I can’t grumble. I’ll just have to go again and make sure I am ready to take my chance when it comes.”

United are unbeaten in nine games now and, while the law of averages means that run must come to an end at some point, Toshney believe fierce competition in the squad means it can be extended for a good while yet.

“We need to hang on to that winning mentality to keep it going and the competition for places has to help with that.

“We made eight changes for last Saturday and the boys who were watching from the stand saw a good performance.

“They know that even if they come back this week they have to play well to stay in there.

“The gaffer’s got a bit of a headache when it comes to his selection but that’s a good thing and that competition means we can keep winning.”

Just as he’s not taking his place for granted, the 24-year-old knows United will have to fight as hard as they’ve done all season to come away from Cappielow with three points.

He’s aware Morton are the other form team in the Championship and personal experience tells him this will be no cakewalk. But with Hibs to follow in a fortnight, he knows extending the winning run by another two games will put United top.

“They are flying high and getting results, so it’s going to be a good game.

“When I was at Raith last season it was always tight against Morton and they are even better this season.

“So we have to be on our game and make sure we pick up the three points this time.

“After this one we have a week off before the Hibs game on the Friday night and the aim is to win them both.

“For us it’s one game at a time, so we’re not looking that far ahead.

“We won’t think about Hibs until after Morton. It’s the next game that’s the massive game.”