Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin wants his team to show they are still trigger happy by putting PEC Zwolle under some friendly fire. United round up their pre-season training camp in Portugal with a friendly against the Eredivisie side on Friday.
Goodwin admitted it has been a successful get-together and United will return to Scotland far stronger for it.
Goodwin expects difficult test against PEC Zwolle
Goodwin confirmed: “We have the game on Friday against PEC Zwolle. This is the second time in two years that we have played them. We had a great game against them in the last pre-season camp in the Netherlands.
“It is a similar coaching team, with a good style. We are expecting a really difficult game. I think we will be tested in a lot of areas.
“The shape and structure of the team will be tested. It is a game where there is no pressure because there will be no supporters.
“The players can go out and express themselves, get a bit of confidence and can keep putting the ball in the net.”
Reduced squad benefits from quality sessions
Goodwin insisted his squad has been put through their paces and will be all the better for it. “The lads enjoyed a bit of a break after the St Mirren game,” their manager revealed. “We flew out here on Monday.
“The camp has been great. It has been really good. We have a reduced squad as a number of boys are away on international duty.
“It has been really worthwhile. We’ve had some good sessions. The players have also had good quality time together, which is important. The weather has been good, which also helps. It has been very beneficial.”
United decided to go away now rather than in pre-season, so it was after Goodwin had finished all his summer recruitment.
Young players top up squad numbers
“We have the majority of the squad here,” Goodwin explained. “We are delighted with the players who are away with their international teams.
“A lot of them have had some good minutes, which is great. We have brought enough players with us to get some good quality and hard training sessions.
“We’ve topped the squad numbers up with some of the younger players who were in and around it in pre-season.”
Will Ferry is one of the United players who have benefited the most from the trip. The players and staff have also had the time to relax and bond.
Goodwin added: “For us, as a staff, we spend a lot of time in the staff room analysing this, that and every other thing.
“For the players, it is more beneficial to have that togetherness for five or six days, where they are sharing accommodations, eating together and they also get a bit of down time as well. They have been able to play golf or relax.”
