Having three No.1s is pretty handy
Courts is content to play it for keeps with Tannadice trio
TAM COURTS knows Dundee United are in safe hands because they now have three quality No.1s on their books.
United have first-choice Benjamin Siegrist and signed Finnish international Carljohan Eriksson last week to replace Trevor Carson who has gone on loan to Morecambe.
The United coach knows he has real competition for the Tannadice gloves with Siegrist the club’s player of the year and incoming Eriksson who was named as Sweden’s top keeper last season fighting it out for the gloves.
Siegrist is out of contract in the summer but even if he doesn’t sign then Northern Irish star Carson will be returning to the fold at
Tannadice. Courts confirmed: “Carljohan can absolutely compete for the No.1 spot and push Benji all the way. “He comes in and enhances what is already a strong area. I think every club needs a strong goalkeeping function. “Benji has been the No.1 for quite some time. He is still in possession of the gloves and he is a guy who we rate immensely. “He has proved time and time again that he is a top goalkeeper but Benji will tell you this himself that goalkeepers always need to be pushed and challenged. “Carljohan is at that stage where he can challenge and they will be pushing each other and that can only be beneficial to our performances on the pitch.”
The United head coach praised sporting director Tony Asghar for pulling off a major coup by bringing in Eriksson on a free from Mjallby AIF.
Courts added: “We are really excited about Carljohan. It has come about after some really good work from our recruitment team. He has been on the radar for a while.
“He is the Swedish goalkeeper of the year and a player who is on an upward trajectory.
“He is at a great age, is an international player and he comes to us at the perfect time to give us real competition and to enhance our playing squad.
“When you look at the qualities he has then he is a pretty all-round keeper. He is a good shot-stopper, takes crosses and is comfortable with the ball at his feet.
“He is different to what we already have and if you look at his journey and the fact he is the Swedish goalkeeper of the year we feel like he will be a real asset to us.”
Courts also insisted Carson very much remains part of their plans and the loan to Morecambe is one that will benefit all concerned.
Courts explained: “We had been having conversations with Trevor for some time because he has an appetite to play regularly and there was also a little personal thing that we want to be flexible with him on.
“We still hold a lot of hope that Trevor will come back and push for the No.1 slot in the summer because he is a top goalkeeper that we really rate and like.” Siegrist is out of contract in the summer along with Jeando Fuchs and Ian Harkes but Courts is relaxed about the situation.
United have already used the situation the other way to sign Tony Watt on a pre-contract from Motherwell.
Courts added: “We are in a similar position with two or three other players who are approaching the last two or three months of their contracts.
“I take a lot of confidence that we have a very transparent relationship with these guys.
“Naturally, we have to be receptive to the fact that once you go into the final few months of a contract then it does cause a nervousness amongst the fan base but I would like to think that we will always cover any vulnerability while we are still around the negotiation table.”