John Rankin believes his Dundee United team-mate Gary Mackay-Steven was back to his sparkling best on Saturday against St Mirren.
The mercurial winger has been hampered by injury in recent weeks, but was handed his first start since September 15 when he helped United to a 4-2 victory at Ross County.
United fired in another four at Tannadice on Saturday against St Mirren, with the Buddies battered from start to finish.
They had no answer to United’s attacking flair with Mackay-Steven tormenting Danny Lennon’s rearguard along with Nadir Ciftci and teenager Ryan Gauld.
Rankin, who was making his 100th appearance for the Tangerines since joining from Hibs in 2011, was delighted to see Mackay-Steven once again reach the heights he is capable of.
Rankin said: “Everybody was raving about Gaz a wee while back and he needs to re-establish that form. I think he was back to those levels against St Mirren.
“He returned to his best, displaying all his tricks. The defenders didn’t know if he was going inside or outside at times.
“If Gary can continue that form, it will be great for the club and the supporters.”Visit www.thecourier.co.uk on Tuesday night for live updates from United’s League Cup quarter-final against Inverness Caley ThistleRankin himself may have notched up his 100th appearance for United, but the centurion will not be satisfied until he has secured silverware with the club.
The midfielder signed at Tannadice in the summer of 2011 after being frozen out at Hibs by then Easter Road boss Colin Calderwood. Rankin has been a virtual ever-present in the United engine room since then and this season has produced consistently vintage performances.
He was at it again on Saturday against St Mirren, whose recent revival came to a grinding halt against a scintillating United side.
There were star men throughout Jackie McNamara’s team, including two-goal hero Nadir Ciftci and the outstanding talent that is Ryan Gauld.
However, this observer would have handed the man of the match award to Rankin who insists he will not be happy until he has won a trophy with United hopefully by going all the way in this season’s League Cup.
He said: “Mark Wilson mentioned it (the milestone) in the warm-up as he had noticed it in the programme but I never knew.
“I am delighted to rack up 100 appearances for this club. It is a massive club and it is a great honour. I feel privileged, to be honest with you.
“I think I have only missed something like three games since I came here and two were through suspension.
“It has been a dream for me coming here. At the time I was in a bad place football wise. I hadn’t played for six months which was hard to take as I didn’t feel I deserved it.
“The only way to bounce back is to answer questions in the right way and I feel I have done that by playing 100 games.
“The only thing is, there is no medal or trophy there yet to mark that. So hopefully we can put that right and get something that actually honours that.
“Everybody has a chance in the League Cup this season every side feels the same way.
“We go to Inverness on Tuesday night. It is a difficult, difficult place and we have suffered some right bad results up there before. But if we can go up there and get ourselves into the next round of the cup…
“It doesn’t have to be as pretty as it was against St Mirren, as I thought we were sensational at times, but if we can get in to the next round, it would be ideal.”
Rankin paid tribute to the “fearless” youngsters who have made this such a promising season for everyone connected with United.
And when asked if this was the most exciting young talent he had been involved with, the former Manchester United youth player said: “To be honest, aye. I always say it is a joy to watch as half the time you are just letting them go and play while we pick up the pieces for them.
“They are an absolute joy. If you look at this game you have Brian Graham, Ryan Gauld, Nadir Ciftci and Gaz (Mackay-Steven).
“Then if you look at the boys you have on the bench you have Chris Erskine, Goodie (David Goodwillie), Ryan Dow and Stuart Armstrong.
“When you look at the squad it is so strong. You have players sitting in the stand champing at the bit and the competition for places is fierce.
“Having guys pushing for places is ideal. As I said, the front four are a joy to watch and it seems to get bums on seats as there was a good crowd in here for the game (6,331). The players certainly responded to that.
“With the ability of the front players we have, if they work hard they will take us up the league. They know that themselves and if they continue the way they are doing just now, we will be up there come the end of the season.
“I have played with some right good players during my career but if you look at some of them at United wee Gauldy is only 17 and Soapy playing at the back is so laid back, he is almost horizontal at times.
“The cigar is out, he is trying tricks and he is a delight to watch. The boys are fearless and the longer they can be like that, the better for them and the club.”