Malik Dijksteel is spot on for St Mirren as he becomes hit with his new Buddies
The Feyenoord youth academy product kept his cool at the sweltering SMiSA Stadium when it mattered most on Saturday.
Malik Dijksteel insists stepping up in the shoot-out was the perfect way to become one of the Buddies.
The St Mirren winger delivered the decisive strike as his side edged out Hearts 5-4 on penalties to reach the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup.
The 24-year-old — a summer signing from League of Ireland outfit Cork City — was brought on at the start of the second period of extra time with the sides locked at 1-1 after 120 minutes.
Shamal George’s save from Claudio Braga helped set up the winning moment for Dijksteel who was dreaming of being the headline act in Saturday’s SMiSA Stadium showdown.
“Before the game you are thinking maybe you can go on and score the winner,” he said afterwards. “But to be able to contribute in this way after the boys worked hard all game is a great feeling.
“Nervous? They were healthy nerves! I felt confident. Roland [Idowu] said to me to act like I’d already scored it and I thought that was good.
“I wanted to introduce myself in a good way. I wanted the team to win but I was kind of hoping it would come to the fifth penalty and I could score. I haven’t practiced them in a while, if I’m honest. I always put it in the same spot although maybe I shouldn’t say that!
“Overall, I thought we deserved the win. It’s exciting to be part of it so hopefully I can get more minutes and I can keep working with the gaffer [Stephen Robinson], and keep learning.”
He continued: “I’m finally settling in. I’ve done two weeks here and I’m moving into a place next week with my family.
“The fans can expect excitement and hard work. I’m beginning to learn how the gaffer wants to play in terms of the pressing and the system. Once I have that, I will be able to bring my own twist to it and hopefully goals and assists.”
Dijksteel will be joined by his girlfriend Lizzie and two-year-old son Remi as he looks to put down roots in Paisley after a nomadic career journey so far.
Born in the Netherlands, he came through the youth system at Feyenoord and was on the books of both Middlesbrough and Wrexham before moving over to Cork.
“Everything has gone really quick and I’m just excited that I’ve got the whole season and I can get to know the gaffer and all of the players,” added Dijksteel. ”My son has been in Amsterdam, Ireland and now Scotland.
“My whole family and her family are big football fans and will try and come for every game. My girlfriend is from Newcastle and her family are all Newcastle season [ticket] holders.”
Dijksteel admits he’s got a couple of aspects of Scottish life to get to grips with —the accent and the winter weather.
“I think the Scotland accent is very hard and I’ve heard that in November the snow will already be coming down,” he smiled. “Newcastle’s cold but I’ve heard Scotland is even colder.”
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