Dundee United Bring in Billy McKay on Loan from Wigan
Dundee United have confirmed the signing of striker Billy McKay on a season-long loan from Wigan.
Dundee United have confirmed the signing of striker Billy McKay on a season-long loan from Wigan.
The Terrors had a £200,000 bid accepted earlier this week but the former Inverness striker has now returned north on a temporary switch until the end of the season.
The Northern Ireland international has struggled to fit in at the DW Stadium, starting just once for the Latics following his £150,000 switch in January. But United boss Jackie McNamara will hope he can rediscover the form which bagged him 62 goals in 141 appearances for the Highlanders.
The club said in a statement: Dundee United can confirm, subject to international clearance, the loan signing of striker Billy McKay from Wigan Athletic.
Billy will wear the number seven jersey throughout season 2015/16 and should be part of Jackie McNamara's squad for the trip to Dingwall on Saturday.''
United could do with McKay's extra fire power having won just one of their five Ladbrokes Premiership games so far.
And speaking before the 26-year-old's capture, defender Paul Dixon revealed his excitement.
The former Dundee and Huddersfield left-back said: I don't think I've played against Billy too many times. It was only once I'd gone to England he turned into the prolific goalscorer he became at Inverness.
But if he can come here and score goals that would be great. That's exactly what we want.
But there is still goals in the guys here. We just need to make sure we make those chances. If we make those chances then hopefully they will take them.''
United now take on a Ross County team flying high after last week's four-goal drubbing of Kilmarnock.
The Tangerines, on the other hand, have had to deal with flak from their own supporters following a stuttering start to the campaign.
Dixon, though, is refusing to focus on the criticism.
He said: I don't read papers or go on any social media sites, that's how I block out the negativity.
It is difficult to do because the job we do we are in the spotlight day in, day out through press, TV and social media. There are always people trying to take shots at footballers to get in their heads or bring them down.
But if I get that sort of thing, even out in the street, I just ignore it.
That flak is part and parcel of football and it happens the world over. Just look at Wayne Rooney. He's been scrutinised over the past week because he hadn't scored for almost 900 minutes.
Then he goes and scores three goals on Wednesday night and everybody has forgotten about it.
As players we just need to focus on our own jobs. If we can do that then we won't have to worry about the flak.
There's a two-week break coming up and it's important to go into that with a win over County. You want a good performance to build on during that time when you are not playing.
Are we looking at the league table yet? It's only five games into the new season. There's a hell of a lot of football still to be played, so the league table doesn't mean anything at this stage.''