GARY Oliver insists he’s still trying to shake off a lack of confidence that is keeping him from playing at his free-flowing best.

Oliver is yet to find the net this season and the forward says it’s bringing him and his game down. 

He admits he can’t figure out why he’s struggling to perform at the same level he did last term.

The 22-year-old has still contributed with a few assists and provided some key performances for his side. 

But Oliver maintains that he desperately wants to open his scoring account for the season, which he reckons will open the floodgates and allow him to hit top gear on the pitch.

He told the Tele: “I’ve not maybe been as confident as I would normally like to be so far this season but I suppose that comes with game time and playing well during those games.

“It’s quite difficult to pinpoint why there’s a dip in confidence. 

“I was actually saying that to myself, ‘why am I not dead confident, and I still think it’s maybe that goal. 

“But speaking to the gaffer he always says to me ‘don’t worry about that, as long as you’re contributing to the team’ and I feel like I’ve been doing that.

“If I score or assist I’ll always take that. When you’re trying to get a partnership going up front sometimes it can change a wee bit too much and you’re not really used to playing with the same striker but I feel like me and Bob McHugh in particular have been playing quite well.”

Ton are much stronger on the front line this season compared to last with Oliver, Jai Quitongo, Robert Thomson, Bob McHugh and even Gary Harkins jostling for a starting spot up top.

But Oliver says he has learned plenty already from his team-mates and hopes to use their advice stay him in the team — and eventually scoring again.

He added: “Up front is where we’re probably the heaviest in the team, so you have to be playing well. 

“A few weeks ago I was out the team, recently I’ve been playing well. 

“That’s football for you. But it’s a good thing as well because it keeps you on your toes in training as well.

“From last year it’s different because we really only had myself and Jai for long spells but now we have five strikers in there. 

“But Jai and I are still young boys and we’ve learned a lot from Bob and Thommo [Thomson] so that’s good.”