Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
McKinnon extends search for striker
DUNDEE United boss Ray McKinnon has extended his search for a new striker.
Last week it was revealed former Tannadice favourite Nadir Ciftci is a target.
And Ray has also given a trial to Dutchman Felitciano Zschusschen. The 24-year-old arrived at the team’s training base at St Andrews University and played i n t he Development team in Friday’s wee derby with Dundee.
The former FC Twente and Dordrecht attacker will be given a few more days to prove he is worth the offer of a contract.
Even so, the manager has other targets on his list and there is a chance he will move to do business between now and the transfer window opening on January 1.
And because of the emergency loan system it’s possible a new face could be in the ranks before the turn of the year.
Just as Hibs did with his Celtic team-mate Kris Commons at the weekend, had United been able to get Ciftci it would initially have been on an emergency 28-day loan.
At the end of that the agreement would have been extended to the end of the season and that kind of deal is a possibility with other targets.
The next few days will see a decision on whether or not experienced full-backs Paul Dixon and Frank van der Struijk can be involved against St Mirren at Tannadice on Saturday.
Dixon has been out since early November and Van der Struijk got his injury a couple of weeks later.
Both, though, have been making good progress and have a chance of making the weekend.
Meanwhile, now the dust has settled on the weekend draw at Raith Rovers, the manager has taken time to thank the near 2,500 Arabs who travelled to Kirkcaldy and got right behind the team.
Not normally one for Jurgen Klopp-style celebrations in front of supporters at the end of games, after the final whistle on Saturday Ray made a point of heading for the away end to acknowledge their effort in backing his 10 men.
“We would like to have got a victory for them and I think they recognised on another day we would have won,” he added.
“I thought they were great and 2,500 travelling down just before Christmas was fantastic.”
Tomorrow afternoon sees the final Development League fixture of the year when the second string take on Hearts at Station Park, Forfar.
It will be a young line-up for that one.