Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has admitted he would love to sign Lyall Cameron on a permanent basis if the opportunity arose, but remains realistic about the competition for the Rangers midfielder.
Cameron is currently impressing on loan at Tannadice from Rangers, yet he wants to delay any decision on his future until the summer. Goodwin knows that if Cameron were available, a host of clubs with far bigger budgets would be in the mix.
Goodwin on Cameron's future
Speaking about a potential permanent move, Goodwin said: "I think we'd be stupid not to explore something like that, if it were to be possible."
"We also need to be realistic. Lyall is on a long-term contract with Rangers so, ultimately, he is their player and I'm sure Derek McInnes is watching the way he is performing with interest. I'm sure there would also be a whole host of clubs interested if Lyall were to become available."
Cameron has struggled for game time at Rangers, spending part of last season on loan at Aberdeen before joining his boyhood heroes in a similar deal. Goodwin hopes Cameron's enjoyment of his football could help their case.
He added: "However, I think we've potentially put ourselves in a good position. He is loving being at Dundee United; he feels at home here and knows exactly what we think of him. He's already a very important player for us."
United's unbeaten run
United return to Premiership action this weekend, hosting Motherwell at Tannadice. They are looking to get one over on the Steelmen after losing at Fir Park last time out, having since gone six games unbeaten.
Goodwin warned: "The last game (at Fir Park) was killed by the early red card – playing 75 minutes with 10 men is always going to be incredibly difficult – so hopefully nothing like that happens and we can get the result we want."
Motherwell stopped their own rot with a win over St Mirren last time out. Goodwin was at the game and has been impressed with Swedish boss Alfred Johansson, who is building on the success of Jens Berthel Askou from last season.
Goodwin said: "I was at their game against St Mirren at the weekend and although the scoreline may have looked quite tight, Motherwell were excellent and could have potentially scored another couple of goals."
"I think Alfred Johansson has done an excellent job there, especially as he is filling some very, very big shoes coming in after Askou and that's always going to be challenging. He's clearly very tactically switched on, and he's got some good players coming back after absences."
"So, we're very aware of the challenge ahead. But we are in a really good place at the moment, on a good unbeaten run, and we want to impose ourselves on the game and continue our recent form."
