Edwards hoping United draw a European giant

RYA N Edwards is d rea m i ng of crossi ng swords with a European “giant” after silencing the doubters with Dundee United.

The Tannadice captain was acutely aware of the criticism aimed at sporting director Tony Asghar and rookie boss Tam Courts following the latter’s appointment last summer.

Amid plenty of onlookers predicting a relegation scrap for the Terrors, Edwards acknowledges the situation could have got ‘messy’.

Instead, Courts l ed United to fourth place – their highest Premiership finish since 2013/14 – and the club will compete in the Europa Conference League next term.

The likes of Braga, Sparta Prague, Anderlecht and Partizan Belgrade are among a plethora of big guns who could lie in wait for the Tangerines.

“As the draw gets closer, and we see the teams we could be facing, it will all come into my mind then,” Edwards said.

“Who would I like to play? Just whoever the biggest teams are! You want to go and play at the biggest arenas. It’s all good experience.

“The key thing for us is to go and enjoy it. We’ve earned that.

“It’s a massive thing for this club to compete (in Europe) and I hope we get a giant at some point.

“There were a lot of eyebrows raised when the appointment (of Courts) was made, a lot of question marks around the news, so it’s a nice achievement for the manager and staff – Foxy (Liam Fox, assistant), Adam (Asghar, coach) and Tony (Asghar).

“And the owner (Mark Ogren) too, because they had the belief in the manager.

“If it hadn’t paid off early doors then it could have been a messy one from the fans’ reaction.”

While United were the best of the rest behind Celtic, Rangers and a fine Hearts side, the likes of Aberdeen and Hibs were condemned to playing bottomsix football following miserable campaigns.

Given many expected the Terrors to be the side toiling at the wrong end, Edwards can take