The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Forgotten men back in picture
United boss hails pair who survived Tannadice cull
It was an announcement that rocked Dundee United to the core and exposed the often fragile employment status of a footballer.
The day in question was May 4 and Tangerines chairman Stephen Thompson had just issued his rather sparse “keep” list of players guaranteed to survive the post-relegation cull.
Among those whose names were conspicuous by their absence were central defender Coll Donaldson and midfielder Charlie Telfer.
Telfer was so out of the picture at United that he had been loaned to Livingston, while Donaldson was struggling in a defence that had been found badly wanting as the club crashed down a division.
Fast forward five and a half months, however, and the pair of 21-year-olds are not only still at United but are both earning the respect and praise of boss Ray McKinnon.
Donald son has impressed the gaffer by responding positively to seeing the competitionfor places in his position increase considerably, while Telfer is thriving and has made 11 appearances for the side this season–three more than he managed for the Tangerines all last campaign.
Indeed, both players can expect a starting place when Dumbarton come calling on Championship duty on Saturday, with Telfer keeping the jersey he wore in the 2-0 win against St Mirren and Donaldson replacing the suspended Mark Durnan.
McKinnon confirmed: “Coll comes right into my thoughts for Saturday and his attitude has been spot-on.
“For a 21-year-old lad who has found himself out of the team and with two centre-halves playing ahead of him, his response has been great. I made a point of pulling him aside and telling him that. He may well get the chance this weekend because he has done himself the world of good with his reaction to being out of the team.
“I think with Coll– may be because he is a big, strong player – we all forget how young he is. We don’t think about him in this way but he is just a young lad who was thrown in at the deep end last season.
“I have chatted with him about how being out of the team has been good for him. He has been able to relax and concentrate on his game, especially the defensive side of things.
“Like the rest of the players, he has taken things on board from the coaching team. I have to say that I am extremely happy with Coll, I really am.
“There is no question about him being ready to play on Saturday if required.”
As for Telfer, McKinnon added: “Charlie has been a bonus for me. I thought when we saw him at Livingston last year, when I was at Raith, that he looked like he had maybe lost a wee bit of interest. But he has come back and gotten fitter.
“I believe he had a wee pot belly before but he doesn’t have it now. He is one of the fitter ones here. Charlie has an opportunity and he is grabbing it.”