Louis Moult is still being driven on by a desire to prove the doubters wrong.

The 31-year-old striker has endured a torrid time in the last few seasons due to injury, needing three knee ops and further surgery on his ankle. Despite that, Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin snapped up Moult in July and the manager’s faith has been richly rewarded.

Moult is lighting up the league with eight goals for the Terrors already but admits making those who had written him off eat their words is still a major motivation. He said: “That’s exactly what I said when I first came here and I like to think I am doing that game by game. But my job isn’t done yet, that’s for sure. Every game I go into, I start afresh. As soon as that game is finished and we win or I score – both hopefully – the day after I’m concentrating on my next game.

“I’m in a good place and really enjoying my football, you can see that. I’m playing with a smile and with passion.”

Moult scored twice in a 6-0 Tannadice rout of Arbroath on Friday to make it 14 games unbeaten in all competitions. But complacency will not creep in as he added: “The gaffer wouldn’t allow that. Yes, we’re confident. But we get the work done and we just have to keep focused.”

Moult’s two goals against the Lichties came courtesy of assists from Glenn Middleton, who delivered a dazzling display. And the striker is delighted to have the former Rangers winger as a team-mate.

He said: “Glenn was probably lacking in that bit of confidence from the previous season. But you can see now he is so much happier and has so much more belief in himself. He’s a fantastic outlet for us and as a striker he’s a dream to have in my team.”

United beat Airdrie at home in September but Moult is still expecting a tough test. He added: “They’re a good side and play with a very patient build-up. We know what we’ll be up against so we need to be organised and disciplined.”

They won plaudits when the season got going, albeit only one other side have scored fewer goals in the league than the Diamonds. While skipper Adam Frizzell admits their latest X Factor contestant was off key, he insists Airdrie’s ability to surprise rivals with more than one tune will only grow.

New boy Kanayo Megwa got his initiation song done en route to a 1-0 loss in Inverness and Frizzell said: “He sang Riptide and it wasn’t great! He’s definitely not got a career in singing.

“But he was brilliant again in the game and that’s the only thing that matters. It wasn’t a bad performance but we just need to find that way – and I’m massively to do with that – of creating chances and scoring goals. We’re not far away.

“We’re probably disappointed in a lot of the results because we know we can do better but it is a tough league and we’re just in it. People forget that, the way we bred a winning mentality over the last couple of years. We were relentless in League One, you take that step up and it’s not going to be as plain sailing at times.

“It is a good thing we’re so hard on ourselves when not winning because that is the way you need to be if you want to be at the top end of the table.”

The Diamonds are looking to carve out a first win in four, albeit remain fourth. Frizzell added: “Something we need to add is maybe not be as sort of one-dimensional.

“Maybe that is a wee bit harsh to say but obviously we like to play a possession-based game and build from the back. Teams have realised it and stifle in the middle of the pitch, so we need to find other ways to carve them open. But we’re working hard on the training pitch to find those loopholes and it will come.”