Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
We must bounce back vows boss
RAY McKinnon believes it’s time for Dundee United to set aside the let-down of back-to-back defeats and concentrate on getting their promotion challenge back on track.
And despite l osses to Dumbarton and Hibs in the last t wo outings, the Tangerines’ gaffer has issued a reminder of the progress his team have made this season.
“I’m happy with where we are in the league. I’m not happy with the l ast two results but we’re not down.
“I always felt it would take time for the team to come together and I’ll take this position right now.
“We’re only four points behind the league leaders and, if you had said that to me at t he start of t he season, I would have bitten your hand off.
“We had a set-back last Friday but now we want to get back to winning ways.”
And to that end Ray is working hard to add another new face to his squad in time for Saturday’s clash with Queen of the South.
He has a specific target in mind and is pulling out all the stops to get business done.
“We’re probably going to have to move someone on to bring somebody in but we are working right now to bring a player in.
“Hopefully, we’ll have it done by the weekend and we’ll be delighted if we can get it done. It’s someone who would excite the fans.
“But there is still work to be done to complete it.”
United have also sent reserve midfielder Matt Smith for a trial at Port Vale with a view to a move that would see him spend the rest of the season on loan in England.
Looking to the weekend again, Ray was happy to report there are no injury worries and there was good news on Dutch defender Frank van der Struijk, out since mid-November with a torn calf muscle.
“Frank’s been back i n training with the rest of the boys for the past couple of days and is looking good.
“He should be ready to play again in a couple of weeks or so.”