Manny Duku grateful to Raith Rovers for chance

The Dutchman has hit eight goals in 10 games in his first season at Stark’s Park and his rich run of form hasn’t gone unnoticed, with Premiership sides reportedly keeping an eye on his progress.

But the 28-year-old insists he isn’t affected by such talk, saying it is all part and parcel of the game.

"Obviously as a team we're doing well so it's not just me,” he says, “there are other players who can create interest from other clubs.

“They come to watch them but if I do well they see me too. We're not Real Madrid but even if a player does well for them he gets interest.

“It happens at even the biggest clubs.”

Duku signed in the summer after spending most of his career in the English lower leagues where, apart from a successful spell at Hayes and Yeading, he says it was a sometimes frustrating spell.

"Before I didn't feel like I was getting a proper chance at the places I was at,” he says.

"When I was at Hayes and Yeading I felt for the first time like 'this is my year'. Before I was bouncing from club to club, then after Hayes and Yeading the same thing happened again, going out on loan deals and things.

"I didn't think I was getting a chance, but here, thanks to John McGlynn and Paul Smith, I got a chance and I knew, even though it was at a lower level before, what I could do.

"I'm very pleased with the start to my Rovers career. I believe in myself so I came here hoping what I can do would actually come to pass.

"Every footballer knows that sometimes things don't work out. It can be because of a lot of different circumstances.

"Sometimes you're just not in the right place, it can be many things.

"For me it has worked out quite well so I'm happy.”

Duku is now setting his sights on continuing his good form against Inverness this weekend and hoping to make amends for the 2-0 defeat in the Highlands back in November.

He said: “That game was one where as a team collectively we weren't at our best.

“It will be our first game of the year so it would be good to start the year off strongly, kick on and have a good rest of the season.”