Score soon or face the axe

Nov 6 2008 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

dennis wyness

ST MIRREN striker Dennis Wyness last night admitted he fears being AXED from the first team unless he can quickly find his shooting boots.

Wyness hasn’t scored in a competitive match since he netted for former club Inverness Caley Thistle 13 long months ago.

He missed a golden opportunity to score his first goal for the Buddies on Saturday when Hibs goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay saved his close range shot during the 0-0 draw.

And Wyness realises he can’t afford too many more off days in front of goal if he wants to stay in the team.

He said: “I had a good chance towards the end of the Hibs game but I wasn’t able to take it.

“Hugh Murray played a great ball over to me but I took a bad touch and the keeper then made the save.

“I was disappointed that I missed but, hopefully, it won’t be too long until I get a goal.

“To be honest, I need to get a goal as soon as possible.

“It’s taking me a while. I’ve had a few chances this season already and, basically, I need to start taking them.”

Wyness, 31, knows that, if he doesn’t come up with the goods soon, then the likes of Craig Dargo and Jim Hamilton will be only too glad to come in and offer Buddies boss Gus MacPherson an alternative up front.

He said: “There are boys on the sidelines who are waiting to come in. There’s Craig Dargo, Jim Hamilton and Tom Brighton, once he’s recovered from injury, so there’s no shortage of options.

“I need to take advantage of any opportunity I’m given.”

Wyness was a cult figure at Inverness and he hopes to go on to become a hero for the Saints fans by rediscovering his scoring touch this Saturday against another of his former clubs, Hearts.

The experienced hitman knows all about the Tynecastle outfit having spent two years with them before heading back north to Inverness in 2006 for a second spell with the Highlanders.

Wyness said: “I had a good time at Hearts. I was there for two years although, unfortunately, things didn’t really work out for me.

“It will be a hard game for us on Saturday because they have good players like Christophe Berra and Lee Wallace. They’re an all-round good team.

“I don’t think we’ve been playing too badly and there have been some games where we should have picked up more points than we did. “