Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has declared the club's summer transfer activity is "nowhere near finished" as he prepares for the new season. The Tannadice side have already brought in eight new faces, including Dylan Tait and Idjessi Metsoko, but Goodwin is keen to add more firepower, particularly in wide areas.
New Signing Jesse Randall Set to Arrive
New Zealand international Jesse Randall, who featured at the World Cup, is due to check in over the weekend. Goodwin said: "He has needed a break. We hope to have him in over the weekend. We will gradually build him up and he shouldn't take too long to get him up to speed. He is a fit boy and it has been a relatively short break since the World Cup, so he should be in relatively good shape."
Premier Sports Cup Campaign Kicks Off
United begin their Premier Sports Cup campaign on Saturday night away to Stirling Albion. Their group also includes Montrose, Arbroath, and The Spartans. Goodwin is aware of the potential for upsets and is determined to avoid them. He said: "I think we are in a really strong position going into the game at the weekend against Stirling Albion. The competition is one where the Premiership teams are expected to manage properly. Albeit over recent seasons we have seen plenty of upsets along the way. We want to make sure we aren't one of those upsets."
Lessons from Last Season's Injuries
Goodwin is mindful of the demanding fixture schedule, with four group games in quick succession. He is keen to avoid the injury problems that plagued United early last season. He explained: "It is about building up the minutes now. Four games at this stage of the season is not ideal for any team, given that players aren't 100% fit. We have to manage the team accordingly. The main thing for us is to make sure we get the points on the board and make sure we do enough to get into the last 16. We also need to make sure we come through it without injuries to give ourselves the best chance of starting the league campaign on a positive note because we picked up far too many injuries in the early stages of last season."
Recruitment Strategy
Goodwin praised the club's recruitment efforts, highlighting the capture of Dylan Tait from Falkirk. He said: "The recruits we have brought in, we have brought in some familiar faces. The likes of Dylan Tait from Falkirk, arguably one of their best players. We had to fight hard to get Dylan because we had a lot of teams who were wanting to get him. We were able to convince him that Dundee United was the right move at this stage in his development. He is going to be a really important player for us."
Goodwin added: "We’ve made some good signings in key areas. We are still nowhere near finished. We need to add more at the top end of the pitch, particularly in the wide areas. Getting in Idjessi Metsoko gives us three really good options at the top end, with Metsoko, Sapsford and Lachy Rose. I think the business we have done has been excellent up to now."
