Liam Boyce’s best ever display of finishing was the Ross County striker’s way of paying tribute to his uncle and showing his appreciation for manager Jim McIntyre’s humanity.

The 26-year-old has been in particularly devastating form in derbies this season, scoring a hat-trick in his club’s first meeting with Inverness Caledonian Thistle in August and two more in between times. However he put aside personal sadness ahead of heading back to Belfast at the weekend to attend his uncle's funeral, to reach new heights on Friday evening, looking skywards as he celebrated wistfully.

"That's the first time I have scored four goals,” he said, following the 4-0 defeat that plunged their neighbours ever deeper into relegation trouble, seven points adrift following Dundee’s defeat of Motherwell the following day.

“Before I came here I'd scored one hat-trick. I've just been lucky with the wingers we have putting the ball into the right areas to attack it.

"The celebration was for my uncle Thomas. The whole family were watching. It's also tough for my father losing his younger brother. You don't expect your younger brother to die first.

“He was 50 and had a heart attack last week and got through it and it was all going well. But he had another one on Thursday morning and died. The gaffer said yesterday at training when I was a bit quiet not knowing if I was going to the funeral that family is the most important thing and to go out and pay tribute to him and thankfully I did.”

Boyce’s form, scoring close to half County’s goals this season, means he is certain to attract significant interest, but he insisted that was out of his hands.

"I leave things to my agent,” he said.

“It's not my decision, it's the club's. But if you are scoring goals you are clearly doing something right and I'll keep on trying to do that. I am under contract till next year."