Joel Nouble has no issues with fans booing - but backs himself to turn form around

Livingston’s Joel Nouble admits the fans are entitled to boo him but insists he remains confident in his ability to help the team - even if he is being asked to play an unfamiliar role.

A section of the Lions’ support booed when Nouble was taken off late in Wednesday evening’s goalless draw with St Johnstone while even the player himself admits he hasn’t hit the heights of last term. But he insists he won’t let the reaction get to him as he targets a vital three points at Motherwell this afternoon.

He said: “It’s hard for me to see it from a fans’ view as when you’re playing the game I see the game differently. Fans are allowed to voice their opinion. When you are a player and you get a reaction like that, it’s not nice to hear but my mental strength and belief in myself - it really doesn’t bother me.

"One thing I learned from a young age is that you don’t wait for validation and don’t live off criticism. They are entitled to their opinions, the season has not been great. All I can do is focus on the team and play well in the next game.

"With the success I had last year, I was playing out wide on the left, 4-3-3 and now we’re doing 3-5-2, it’s a whole different concept but I’m not sure they (fans) see it that way. They are expecting the same.”

The former Aldershot Town man has been asked to step in at right wing-back over recent weeks, which he admits is a new challenge, commenting: “It’s different because I’ve never done that in my whole life and it’s a whole different picture,

"I’ve played maybe two or three games up front and a couple of times out on the wing. This season has been tough in that sense - in terms of what I had a lot of joy with last year, I’ve not been given the same opportunity this year. That’s