Ross County attacker Michael Gardyne is hoping recent performances have convinced manager Jim McIntyre he is worthy of a longer stay with the club.
Gardyne joined County on a six-month loan from Dundee United at the end of the summer transfer window, just days before former manager Derek Adams was sacked the Dingwall club.
It is Gardyne’s third spell with the Staggies, having joined on loan from Celtic in 2006 prior to a four-year stint which ended with a move to hometown club United in 2012.
With two goals in eight appearances, Gardyne is thoroughly enjoying being back at the club under McIntyre, and would be happy at the prospect of staying longer.
Gardyne said: “I’m enjoying being back. With the new manager coming in he’s bringing his own methods in. Everyone is embracing it and enjoying the way he wants to train and play.
“I’m playing every week, I’m scoring again and playing well. It’s up to the manager, but I’m getting on well with the new management team. Hopefully when it comes to deciding the manager will want to keep me.
“It’s been quite easy to come back. There were a few players who had been here before.
“When I first came back there wasn’t a manager in place, but I had confidence in my ability to impress the new man.
“That was one of the reasons I came up, I wasn’t fazed by the club not having a manager.”
Despite being just 28, Gardyne finds himself among the senior statesmen at County, particularly given the recent emergence of youngster Tony Dingwall into the first-team.
The 20-year-old made his first start against Kilmarnock earlier in the month, and Gardyne was impressed by his fellow attacker’s display.
Gardyne added: “Tony was brilliant against Kilmarnock, he was man of the match for me. Like most youngsters he doesn’t have a fear factor, he just wants to come in and play football.
“It is always good when you have youngsters coming through. It’s not just Tony, there are three or four others trying to break into the team.
“The manager has said if they are good enough and working hard enough they will get a chance, and he proved that by playing Tony against Kilmarnock.”