Mellon keen to test Goldson’s blue back line

AS manager of Shrewsbury Town, Micky Mellon knew Connor Goldson was always destined for bigger things. The Dundee United boss has since watched with pride as the defender has gone from an unknown property in Scotland on his arrival at Rangers in 2018 to a pivotal member of a record-equalling Ibrox backline. Despite his admiration for Goldson, however, Mellon would dearly love his team to be the first to breach Steven Gerrard’s watertight defence this season. The Ibrox side have started the campaign with six clean sheets to match a 116-year-old league feat set by Celtic. But the Tannadice boss will be boosted in his quest to break down Goldson and Co by the long-awaited return to fitness of star striker Lawrence Shankland. ‘I don’t think many people in Scotland outwith those at Rangers knew about Connor before he came up to Scotland,’ said Mellon. ‘But I have always said he is influential and a leader who will get better and better — because he is one of these guys who wants to continually improve. ‘I had him at Shrewsbury and, even back then, you could tell he was a lad that was going to do well. The lads around him had to do well to match his standards. He was always first and last off the training ground. ‘When you have players you have that bond with, you like to see them kick on and do well in their careers — and Connor has done really well with Rangers.’ Mellon confirmed that Scotland forward Shankland will play some part at Ibrox tomorrow. He said: ‘Any time you play

Rangers you know it is going to be a challenge and you want to have as many really good options with you to give yourself a chance. It is always good to get good players back.’ As United and Rangers prepare to meet for the first time in six years, a lot has been made of the bad blood between the clubs either side of the Ibrox side’s liquidation in 2012. But Mellon laughed when asked about this weekend’s fixture being a grudge match. ‘There are a lot of feuds in Scotland — everyone has a feud,’ he smiled. ‘It’s only the size of the feud that changes. I love the competition here, the history of the clubs you go to and what they represent. I am not involved in any feud and neither are our players. It’s good to have this game back. You know my feelings about Dundee United, the size of the club and the fact we should be at this level. My job is to get a team which can consistently compete in these games. We want to keep moving forward and we won’t hide away from that. ‘It’s great to be going to a club like Rangers to take them on. ‘I don’t know Steven Gerrard but I knew what sort of player he was. He was a tough competitor and he will want his team to be like that as well. I’m looking forward to it.’ Meanwhile, United are closing in on 19-year-old former Rochdale midfielder Florent Hoti. ‘Florent has impressed,’ said Mellon. ‘He’s got the chance of a call-up from Kosovo because his parents are from there and I believe that opportunity will be there for him.’