Winning Streak
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After securing their victory in the New Firm Derby, Dundee United finally found their rhythm, just as Peter Houston had hoped.
On September 22, the Scottish League Cup reached the Round of 16, with Dundee United traveling north to face Ross County, a team from the Scottish Championship.
Scotland, like England, has two major domestic cup competitions—the League Cup and the Scottish Cup. However, unlike the Scottish Cup winners, who earn a place in European competition, the League Cup champions do not receive such a qualification.
According to tournament rules, teams already competing in European tournaments receive automatic byes into the League Cup's Round of 16. This meant Dundee United avoided the early rounds and entered directly into the knockout stage.
Having just escaped a rough start to the season, Peter Houston was primarily focused on league survival and saw no need to expend unnecessary energy on a cup competition without European rewards. As a result, he fielded a heavily rotated squad.
Even with a second-string lineup, Dundee United proved too strong for Ross County. The match stretched into extra time, but in the end, a late goal from Danny Cadamarteri secured a 2-1 victory, sending United through to the quarterfinals.
Cadamarteri, who once held promise as a star forward, had now settled into a reliable backup role under Houston's system.
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On September 25, in the sixth round of the league, Dundee United hosted St. Johnstone in a Tayside Derby—a local rivalry, albeit smaller in scale than the New Firm Derby.
Liam Carter was given his first start in several matches, but his performance was met with heavy defensive pressure. St. Johnstone clearly viewed him as a danger man and marked him tightly throughout.
Despite struggling to create clear-cut chances, he managed one decisive moment in the 26th minute. After a skillful run down the right flank, he sent a precise cross into the box. Johnny Russell was in the perfect position and slotted the ball home, giving Dundee United a 1-0 lead.
That goal proved to be the winner. United held firm and secured back-to-back league victories, climbing further up the table.
The momentum continued into their next fixture on October 2, when they traveled to face Kilmarnock in the seventh round of the league.
This time, Stuart Armstrong, who had started forming a strong midfield partnership with Liam Carter, played a starring role. In the first half, he provided two assists—one each for Jon Daly and Johnny Russell—to give Dundee United a 2-1 lead at halftime.
Kilmarnock's hopes took a major hit when one of their defenders received a second yellow card and was sent off early in the second half.
Sensing an opportunity, Dundee United pressed forward. In the 72nd minute, Carter won a free kick just outside the box. He stepped up confidently and delivered a stunning curling shot into the top corner—a goal that sealed a 3-1 victory.
After the match, he was awarded Man of the Match and was invited to the post-game press conference.
During the interview, Armstrong playfully referred to Liam Carter as the "Kung Fu Kid" due to his technical footwork and agility. The nickname quickly caught on with fans.
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With three consecutive league wins and four straight victories in all competitions, Dundee United had completed their turnaround.
After seven rounds, their position in the standings had risen dramatically. They had climbed from 11th place after Round 4 to 4th place, breaking into the European qualification zone.
At the top of the table, the league remained a two-horse race.
Both Celtic and Rangers had maintained perfect records, winning all seven of their matches to sit at 21 points each. Celtic held the top spot due to a superior goal difference.
Dundee United, with 11 points from 3 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses, sat in fourth place—but they still trailed the league leaders by a significant 10-point margin.
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With the seventh round concluded, the league paused for two weeks for international matches.
Dundee United had relatively few international call-ups, allowing most of the squad to rest and recover.
During the break, Liam Carter returned to his shared residence, only to find that Old John—his longtime guardian and mentor—was nowhere to be found.
Alone in the house, he noticed a folded newspaper sitting on the table in front of him.
It was the latest edition of The Daily Record, one of Scotland's most prominent sports publications. The front page featured a bold headline:
"Dundee United's Midfield Duo—The Scottish FA Must Act Quickly!"
The article highlighted the emergence of two of Scotland's most promising young midfielders: Liam Carter and Stuart Armstrong.
"Since the start of the new season, Dundee United's standout young talents have undoubtedly been Liam Carter and Stuart Armstrong."
"Carter has recorded 3 goals and 2 assists in 6 league appearances, while Armstrong has contributed 1 goal and 2 assists in 5 games. They are, without a doubt, one of the most promising young midfield partnerships in Scottish football."
"At club level, no one can predict how long this duo will stay together before being snapped up by bigger teams. But from a national perspective, neither has been called up at any level yet. The Scottish FA must act fast and integrate them into the youth setup as soon as possible."
"Armstrong is a born-and-bred Scot and is a natural selection for the national team. However, Carter's situation is more complex. With eligibility for both Scotland and England, there is a risk that he could opt to represent the Three Lions instead."
"Given Scotland's long absence from major international tournaments since the 1998 World Cup, securing top talent is more crucial than ever. We have fewer and fewer Scottish players competing in the Premier League—so every young star must be nurtured and retained."
Liam Carter read the article carefully. Before he could react, Old John's voice suddenly sounded behind him.
"So, Liam—what do you think?"
Carter turned around. "Think about what?"
"Playing for Scotland, of course."
Liam hesitated for a moment. "I haven't given it much thought. It's not like they've called me up yet."
Old John chuckled. "They will soon enough."
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During the international break, there wasn't much excitement in the British media regarding national team matches. The stronger teams won as expected, and the weaker ones struggled—nothing unusual.
However, the Premier League had become a hot topic of discussion, particularly because of Liverpool's shocking start to the season.
After seven rounds, Liverpool sat in 18th place, dangerously close to the relegation zone.
Pundits and fans alike were debating whether Liverpool would follow the path of Leeds United—a once-great club that had been relegated due to financial issues.
Much of Liverpool's current crisis stemmed from ownership struggles and financial instability. Without a strong financial backer, they risked a downward spiral similar to Leeds in the early 2000s.
Reports of potential takeovers had circulated all summer, with rumored buyers ranging from American investors to Middle Eastern billionaires. There were even whispers of potential Asian interest, though nothing had been finalized.
In Scotland, Liverpool remained one of the most widely supported English clubs, largely due to their connection with Kenny Dalglish, one of the nation's greatest footballing legends.
Amidst all the drama, Liam Carter's name continued to pop up in media discussions. His recent performances had significantly boosted his popularity, and the British press wasted no time in digging up details about his background.
Stories emerged about his youth career, his upbringing, and his footballing idols.
One key detail stood out—his admiration for Arsenal growing up, and his idolization of Thierry Henry.
With his rise to prominence, comparisons to other legendary attacking midfielders had begun.
And for Liam Carter, the journey was only just beginning.