Hearts loanee approaching top gear at rival after missing out on key element at Tynecastle
The star is spending the season away from Hearts elsewhere in the Premiership.
Yan Dhanda says he’s putting a lack of pre-season at Hearts behind him to start shining for Dundee.
The attacking midfielder signed for the Jambos ahead of the the 2024/25 term after impressive form with Ross County in the Premiership, but minutes proved inconsistent. He joined Dundee - managed by ex-Jambos skipper Steven Pressley - in the summer transfer window on a season-long loan deal as regular matches were sought.
Dhanda netted the winner from the penalty spot in Dundee’s key 1-0 win in the Premiership over Falkirk on Saturday that gives them breathing space towards the foot of the top flight. The Jambos loanee feels he is now finding his best game after playing an element of catch-up after joining the Dark Blues.
Yan Dhanda on Dundee move
He said: "Yes, I'm definitely getting back to my best. I didn't really have a pre-season so I needed a run of games to get into my rhythm. I feel really fit now. The coaching staff have been excellent with me and the manager has confidence in me.
"We have a good relationship and I'm just happy we won for him. Everyone in the changing room wants to win for the manager. As players we need to step up more in games and we've done that. So I'm happy for the team and the staff as well."
Dhanda added on his weekend display: "I think I've taken six penalties and scored six, so I was fairly confident. I knew I was going to score. It took longer than expected but I knew when I took the shot it was going to be a penalty. I kind of had that in my head. If I was going to have a penalty, I knew where I was going to put it, so I was confident. I missed on Friday but I knew I definitely wasn't going to miss two in a row!
Dundee 1-0 Falkirk verdict
"I thought, 'I've just missed one in training, so I'm definitely going to get one tomorrow', because that's just how it works. I thought on Friday night if I get a pen I'm going the same way as I went in training and I did. So, yes, I was confident I was going to score.
"We a were all very happy. just We spoke all week about the importance of this game. The gaffer highlighted that having a game at home was a massive opportunity for us to get three points. We're buzzing to have got them. "We have to look forward to our home games, but we really needed a big win. We stuck to the game plan but the second half was difficult.
"I felt they were the better team but we dug in and it was an improvement on the draw with Livingston, because we conceded two goals there after we went ahead. But here we were solid and didn't look like conceding. I said to the lads, if you win two games in this league back to back it changes everything. We have another home game now and the importance of home games is massive in this league. We're really together, the staff and the players, so I look forward to another big game on Tuesday and getting another win."