Bowie had gone nine games without scoring prior to the visit of Dundee and it looked like that barren run might continue as he spurned two close-range opportunities.
However, the centre-forward shrugged off those misses to slam in the opener and later teed up Jamie McGrath for the second.
“The pleasing thing for me is he’s back on the scoresheet and he keeps getting himself in those positions,” said Gray.
“I believe there’s a lot more to come from Kieron.
“It’s not just goals that he brings to the team, there’s the unselfish work he does that goes unseen at times.”
Clarke demands a similar shift from his striker, with Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes often battling alone to hold up play for the supporting midfield cavalry.
George Hirst fits that bill too, while Lawrence Shankland made the most of his Scotland recall with a classic poacher’s finish against Denmark.
Clarke is fiercely loyal and there may only be four forward slots available next summer, so it’s up to Bowie and others on the fringes to catch the eye.
“Performances like today is what he needs to put in as regularly as he can,” added Gray. “Scoring goals, affecting the game.
“And for all the young players in Scotland there is the carrot now of what could potentially be at the end of the season if you’re doing well for your clubs with the World Cup coming up.
“He’ll certainly benefit from that.”