News round-up: August 29th
No more signings, but new recruits are raring to go on Sunday.
‘This is the moment we use to kick-start the season’
Jim Goodwin has insisted that his team “know what’s expected of them” ahead of Sunday's derby at Dens Park.
With just one point from their opening two Premiership fixtures, Goodwin said it was time to “get back to winning ways” if the side had any hope of matching the success of last season.
He said: “We need to get back to winning ways. We've had a really good week's training and there's a real air of excitement building up to this big game.
"I think it's equally important for both teams to get those three points. If we want to go on and have the success we had last season, we need to get back to winning ways."
Returning hero Luca Stephenson said the squad was “feeling confident” ahead of the clash.
He said: “The focus has been really strong this week. We've had time to rest after a busy start and we've gotten a few bodies back. The squad feels fresher, more focused, and really ready for the weekend.
“Derby Days are always exciting. Everyone around the country gets up for them, and it’s no different here. It’s a huge game. When I came back up, the first fixture I looked for was the Derby - it’s come around quickly, which I was buzzing about.
“These games bring out an extra 10–20 per cent in you because it means so much to the club and the fans. I remember losing last year and how horrible that felt for us and the supporters. But when you win a Derby, it’s the best feeling in football — you feel invincible. Hopefully, this is the moment we use to kick-start the season.”
Despite having the best out of 10, United have lost the previous two derbies.
"There's a lot on the line for the players and for Steven [Pressley] and myself," Goodwin admitted.
"For the supporters who all want to go to work on Monday morning with the bragging rights.”
United’s transfer window is ‘pretty much done’
Dundee United is not expected to sign any more players before the end of the transfer window.
Manager Jim Goodwin said the club was “pretty much done” with recruitment, having signed 14 players over the summer.
Goodwin said injuries had forced him to “question one or two areas of the squad” but signalled that Swedish striker Nikolaj Moller would be the last man in the door before the close of business on Monday.
He told journalists: "Once everyone is back and available we've got a group of players that can really go and challenge in this league."
However, that doesn’t mean there will be no movement at the club.
There is an expectation that Richard Odada will move on, despite having a year left on his deal. The Kenyan midfielder was loaned out to Serbian side OFK Beograd last season after a forgettable start to his Tannadice career and hasn’t been seen since the start of the season.
United also has until the end of September to decide which players to loan out to lower leagues.
But United won’t be doing business for the sake of it.
The club shrugged off an underwhelming bid for vice-captain Will Ferry, according to reports by The Courier.
He told the paper: “We’ve had bits of interest in a number of players. However, the reality is we’re not letting anybody walk out the door if the valuation isn’t what we consider to be an attractive number.
“We don’t need to sell anybody and it’s important that clubs don’t show themselves to be weak in negotiations. If we have a player that’s worth a certain amount of money and it’s not matched, the player won’t be leaving.”