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Dundee United captain Sean Dillon knows midfielder Wato Kuate can talk the talk – he just hopes he can walk the walk to lead the Tannadice club back to the Premiership.
The former Manchester City trainee scored a stunning a second goal in Friday’s 3-0 play-off quarter-final second leg victory over Morton in only his fourth start since joining in March.
Kuate’s confidence on the pitch is matched by his belief off it, with Dillon admitting the players have been taken aback by the 21-year-old telling the club’s own television channel that he’s the best player in that position in the world when fit.
United host Falkirk in tonight’s semi-final first leg at Tannadice and Dillon has backed the Portuguese to do the talking with his feet.
He said: “I don’t think Wato needs any more confidence but his goal will have done him a lot of good anyway
“If anything, he’s probably a lot quieter in training than he is in his interviews.
“He’s pretty quiet, actually, he’ll speak on the pitch and sometimes he gets a bit carried away with some of his shouts.
“His interviews were different, that’s for sure, but it’s a bit of craic.
“I heard he told our club TV that when he’s match fit he’s the best player in that position in the world.
“It’s interesting, it makes a difference from someone just saying ‘we’ll see how things go’ and all the usual stuff.
“Can you image me saying I heard a voice in the crowd and the goal was a gift to them? The biggest gift I give them is keeping the ball in play.
“But I think it’s great, he’s a character and has done well since coming in.
“I got chatting to him before and I think, when he went to Man City, he said he’d been at Juventus and AC Milan and had options to go elsewhere. He chose Man City.
“Obviously it hasn’t worked out for him. But he looks good enough.
“He’s pretty chilled out, nothing has seemed to faze him and the gaffer thinks he’s done well enough to be playing.
“It’s really good to have a new signing, someone fresh, at this time of the season.”
Dillon was a Scottish Cup winner under former United manager Peter Houston in 2010 and admits he has nothing but respect for the Bairns boss.
He added: “I think he’s a great manager. I really enjoyed my time with him here and was sad to see him leave.
“Without getting involved in all this budget stuff, you’d imagine he is working with a lot less than us and Hibs. Or so we’re told.
“But I like him, I like the way he does things and I have a lot of respect for him, for what he’s done in getting Falkirk to finish ahead of us.
“When he took over with us, it was a continuation of when Craig Levein left.
“A new manager but it didn’t feel like it.
“He gave you confidence. I wouldn’t say there was specifically one thing that stood out – I just enjoyed working under him.”
*Sean Dillon was speaking ahead of tonight’s Scottish Premiership play-off semi final first leg, which is live on BT Sport 1
