From the way Chris Kane struck his long-range winner against Ross County at the weekend, you wouldn’t have thought it was his first senior goal beyond the 18-yard line.
The St Johnstone man knows that a centre-forward’s career is built on what he does inside the penalty area – a quick glance at his team-mate Steven MacLean’s goal record would back that up.
But Kane is relieved that Saturday’s 20-yard bullet to secure a late three points for his team will shut up his friends who wouldn’t let him forget the unwanted statistic.
“I’ve been waiting on that goal outside the box for a while,” said Kane, who now has 11 Saints career goals.
“It must have been at least a foot outside!
“A lot of my pals have been giving me stick – saying you only score terrible goals and stuff like that.
“Strikers do most of their work in the box so that’s where you’re going to score the majority of your goals. But you do want to get a few from outside as well.
“The manager tells me to take a shot if the chance is on. But you need to pick the right moment because if there were team-mates in a better position they’d let you know if you were shooting from 30 yards out.”
Kane revealed that work on the training ground played a part in the goal.
“I’m always trying to improve my link-up play,” the 22-year-old explained.
“I saw David (Wotherspoon) running down the wing and I’ve gone to run into the box.
“Then I thought ‘he’s going to pass to my feet’. I get caught out with that quite a lot.
“Thankfully, I spotted it and I checked my run. I took a touch to my left and just hit it. Once I saw the keeper dive I knew he wasn’t getting there.”
Kane believes he has the perfect mentor in MacLean.
He said: “If you’re up front on your own, good link-up play is even more important.
“For that, there’s nobody better to learn from than Macca.
“His link-up work is really good. That was definitely the case on Saturday again.”
Saints have thrived on the road as a team and the same could be said for Kane as an individual.
“That’s two I’ve got up in Dingwall,” he said.
“I do like playing away from home. I don’t know what it is but I’ve always enjoyed it for whatever reason.
“Aberdeen was obviously my first goal and it was such an important one, getting us into Europe.
“The one at the weekend was probably technically the best one I’ve scored, though.”
He added: “The manager is telling me I’m progressing well, that I’m stronger and looking sharper.
“That’s always nice to hear.”
More points, goals and game-time are Kane’s short-term objectives.
“It was a big win for us on Saturday,” he said.
“A draw would have been half-decent because it would have kept our lead over Ross County but obviously the win was even better. It’s made the gap even bigger.
“And above us Hearts only drew and Rangers lost.
“Hopefully I’ll get a run in the team and maybe even get another goal outside the box.”
Wright has been pleased with his young forward’s progress.
“Kano is a quiet lad but he has chipped in with important goals for us,” said the Perth boss.
“There was only five minutes left and both teams were going for the win. County were leaving themselves a bit square at the back and we thought a long ball might get Kano’s pace in behind.
“As it turned out the winner came from good passing play and a wonderful finish from outside the box. But Kano is a goalscorer and we know he is capable of that.
“It is still early in his career but I am pleased with what he has done so far.
“He is probably more renowned for being a penalty box striker than getting goals from distance.
“We had a great view and as soon as it left his foot we knew it was going in the top corner.”
