Dundee United fans have been blown away by Louis Appere – Leeds United are reportedly impressed too.
Louis Appere describes himself in two words; ‘fearless’ and ‘direct’.
And if anything embodied those two adjectives, it was Appere’s stunning solo goal in Sunday’s Scottish Cup clash between Dundee United and top-flight Hibernian.
With the clock ticking down at Tannadice, The Tangerines needed something special and it was their 20-year-old starlet who provided it. Pirouetting away from a challenge on the left flank, Appere raced inside before whipping a perfectly placed shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
It was a moment of sheer, game-changing brilliance from a man who, just a few weeks earlier, was linked with a £2.5 million move to Rangers, Celtic and Leeds United (TEAMtalk).
“That’s what the manager likes me to do – be direct, be fearless and I think I did that when I came on,” the in-demand Appere told The Courier, reflecting on a brilliantly taken fifth goal of the season.
“I try to play as well as I can every game but I like the big occasions. They excite me.”
It is that brazen self-confidence, not to mention the ability to back it up, that has three of the most well-supported clubs in Britain batting their eyelashes in his direction.
Young players like Appere are a joy to watch. And his description will conjure up nostalgic memories of Jack Clarke racing down the Elland Road touchline, leaving full-backs choking on his dust.
Clarke, a courageous 19-year-old winger, quickly became Marcelo Bielsa’s go-to super-sub during his debut season at Elland Road. After just half a season in the first-team, he joined Tottenham Hotspur for £10 million.
Who is to say Appere, with a few more eye-catching cameos like Sunday’s, won’t follow in Clarke’s footsteps?
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