Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has backed midfielder Dylan Tait to force his way into Sebastien Pocognoli's Scotland set-up, saying there is "no reason at all" the 24-year-old should not aim for international football.
Goodwin believes Tait has been one of the standouts in the Scottish Premiership this season and that if he maintains those levels, it will be hard for Pocognoli to keep ignoring him. The Scotland squad is well-stocked in midfield, but Goodwin noted that several players are moving towards the latter end of their international careers.
Natural successor in midfield
Goodwin argued that if Tait can keep catching the eye in tangerine, he could become one of those natural successors. "There's no reason at all that Dylan shouldn't be aiming to play for Scotland," he said.
"His chances are massively increased if he's playing in a Dundee United team that is playing well. I think everyone can see how well he suits the way we are trying to play."
"He's in a tough area of the pitch, clearly. Guys like Billy Gilmour, Scott McTominay and John McGinn are top players. Kenny McLean has had a great international career; Lewis Ferguson's in there."
"However, what I would say is there are few guys in the group moving towards the latter stages of their international careers and the new manager, (Sebastien) Pocognoli, has already shown a willingness to look at guys who could be next in line. If he keeps performing like he has so far this season, hopefully Dylan can be one of those younger guys who comes onto his radar."
Captain's armband and praise
United signed Tait from Falkirk on a free transfer in the summer, fighting off stiff competition from England to land him. Goodwin has always been a big fan but thinks the 24-year-old has been even better than he expected, so much so that he has handed him the captain's armband with Ross Graham currently out of the side. Tait is shining in United's new-look midfield alongside Zidane Iqbal and Lyall Cameron.
His manager acknowledged: "Everyone can see his quality on the pitch, but he brings so much more – his influence in the dressing room; the way he carries himself around the place; setting standards. Dylan has really risen to that aspect of things."
"The biggest compliment I ca pay to Dylan is that he's even better than I thought I'd be. As a manager, you watch opposition players and analyse their strengths and weaknesses – and I always liked Dylan. That's why we worked so hard to get him in despite some fierce competition for his services. But you don't see what they are like in the dressing room or in training every day, and Dylan has been excellent. We truly couldn't be any happier with Dylan."
Stats put him on radar
Modern football is driven by stats, and Goodwin knows that in terms of making things happen and creativity, Tait's data will put him on the radar of a lot of clubs. The United boss insisted: "There aren't many midfielders like him around anymore; a player whose first instinct is always to make a forward pass."
"His stats, in terms of progressive passes, are through the roof and it's a huge part in how we play. We've told our players to make forward passes; to take risks. We won't criticise anyone who tries to make a brave decision and it goes wrong. Dylan is a good example of what we are asking from all of our players."
United return to Premiership action against Motherwell this weekend, looking to keep their unbeaten run going. They will also be keen to overturn their defeat to the Steelmen at Fir Park earlier in the season, after Emmanuel Agyei's early red card. United will go into the game without Neil Farrugia, who is out injured.
