Louis Appere showed great composure with his fantastic finish for his side’s second goal against Dundee on Friday night.
However, Dundee United assistant boss Gordon Forrest admits the 20-year-old’s overall performance in the red-hot derby atmosphere was mature beyond his years.
The striker has firmly established himself in the Tangerines’ first team this season, forming a potent partnership up front with Lawrence Shankland.
And Forrest is fully confident there is even more to come from Appere.
He said: “The derby was a massive game, with a fantastic buzz in the stadium – the fans were tremendous – so for Louis to show his maturity during the match along with his composure for the finish was great to see.
“To get that goal in a game like that will do him the world of good.
“Louis has a great temperament and is a great lad. He has started the season really well.
“You can talk about his physicality, his strength, his pace but he is contributing well to the team and deserves to be in that starting line-up.”
When asked if he can envisage further improvement from the front man, Forrest replied: “One hundred per cent, without a shadow of a doubt.
“He is just 20 years old and went out on that loan spell last season (to junior side Broughty Athletic) to get some goals.
“He has improved from that, he has improved pre-season and he has improved in these early stages of the season.
“Training and playing alongside players like Lawrence and working with the staff here, he is only going to get better.”
