Carey aims to deliver the goods

Mar 16 2013 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

Dead-ball specialist Graham Carey reckons he might have to fight for the right to take St Mirren’s free-kicks in tomorrow’s League Cup Final clash with Hearts.

Carey is widely regarded as THE set-piece expert for Danny Lennon’s team.

However, he believes the Buddies have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to dead-ball situations.

And Carey has been practising his free-kick repertoire in training this week to make sure he’s on target if given the nod at Hampden tomorrow afternoon.

The 23-year-old Irishman said: “We’ve got a lot of great individual players here but, hopefully, I’ll get an opportunity to at least test the Hearts keeper.

“It would be good to get a goal but I think a win is more important than any individual performance.

“If it meant we were going to win the cup, I’d take a tap-in. I’d even take an own goal!

“It doesn’t matter who scores. It’s a team game and it’s all about winning that trophy.”

Carey is well aware that the fans will be expecting big things from him if he is able to line up a few free-kicks in tomorrow’s game.

He added: “It’s a tough one as people are almost expecting me to score with free-kicks.

“I hit a couple against Dundee United last weekend that I put into Row Z – and I could hear the crowd mumbling!

“It comes with the territory. You’re bound to miss a few.”

Carey also admits there are no guarantees that he will even be in Lennon’s starting line-up.

He said: “It would be good to get the opportunity to play in the final but whatever team the gaffer picks will be going out to try their best.”