Kai Fotheringham thanks his unsung Dundee Utd hero for helping him battle back into Jim Goodwin's team

Frustrated Kai Fotheringham has finally forced his way back into the Dundee United team and thanked his mental coach for helping him keep his head in the game.

The youngster was a key figure in United’s promotion out of the Championship but in the Premiership he has had to be patient and bide his time. Fotheringham only got his first top-flight start against Rangers last week and admitted that mind coach, John Johnstone, has helped him keep going and get through the lows of not getting his opportunity.

Fotheringham confirmed: “I’ve been working with a mental coach, John Johnstone of Football Mindsets, who has really helped me with things this season. He works on different aspects of the game with me, I started with him this time last year. John has been very good with me, he sends me a wee reminder every Monday morning to tell me to keep at it and remind people why I’m here.

“So I have to thank him a lot because this season has been really challenging and something I’ve not been used to.

“Even when I was doing well I felt it important to focus on the mental side of the game because it’s so important.
“He works on tiny little techniques to have during games, if you’re not having the best of times how you cope with it and bounce back. Then away from football, how you conduct yourself and live your life. “How you treat football and the supporters.”

Fotheringham is looking to build on things when St Mirren visit Tannadice. “Hopefully I did enough at Rangers,” he added. “I felt after the first 20 minutes I kept Jefte pretty quiet and it was a good feeling being back in. The gaffer showed he has trust in me to play me in a game like that.

“Obviously Rangers are struggling just now but our press had them back in and