AIDAN Nesbitt hopes that his penalty against Ayr United sparks a goal rush in 2021.

The 23-year-old winger netted his second of the campaign to secure a point against the Honest Men and he has made finding the net more often a top priority in the new year.

While Nesbitt is pleased to get on the scoresheet for the first time since October, he admits that he and his team-mates were disappointed not to come away from Somerset Park with all three points.

He told the Tele: “It was pleasing to come back into the side from the start and to get a goal.

“I’m confident that I can go and play easily, put in good performances on a consistent basis and obviously I’ve felt like I’ve been doing well in training and coming into games and I thought I was due my start.

“To play with a consistent rhythm and maybe add more goals to my game means that I need to play games and I want to be able to do that.

“Hopefully from here on in I can continue to start and play as many games as I can, adding as many goals and contributing to the team as much as I can. That’s all I want to do.

“This is a good chance for us to build some momentum going into the New Year.

“We’ve managed to get a good point at Ayr, even though that we’re disappointed that we’ve not won.

“I feel like we’ve come here and created chances and got a lot of crosses into the box.

“It might not have always been clear cut chances but I thought that we had the clear bulk of possession in the final third."

Nesbitt is determined to make the most of his chance in the first team with Josh McPake now out of the picture and back at Rangers amid reports of a loan move to Harrogate Town.

The ex-Dundee United man said: “I really want to kick on from here, but it’s hard when you’re out the team.

“I’ve not been holding back in training. I’ve been working hard - harder than ever - and when you go and get your chance you need to take it. Hopefully I’ve done that.

“I’ll play anywhere, especially behind the striker whether it be on the left or right, or even as a 10.

“If I’m asked to play as a 10 I’ll go in and play as well as I possibly can, if the manager plays me out on the right or the left, it’s the same thing I’ll give 100 per cent either way.

“I’m just happy if I’m playing I don’t really prefer playing any particular position just now."

The playmaker believes their strong bond under Anton McElhone will be a crucial in the new year.

Nesbitt added: “We can't afford to look too far ahead. If you win games of football it can take you anywhere, if you lose suddenly it's all doom and gloom.

“At the end of the day we’re in there as a team. It’s a good squad and, although you hear a lot of boys saying it, it’s true, it’s such a tight knit group.

“No matter what the circumstances, we’re always together and we’re always tight – we’re all working for each other and I think you can see that in the way that we play.

“We’re working hard for each other as well as the club and the performances and wins will come from that.”