The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
McKinnon in hunt for new faces
UNITED: Tannadice boss in talks with signing targets as he continues squad rebuilding
Dundee United manager Ray McKinnon is still in the hunt for midfielder Fraser Fyvie.
The Tannadice boss also confirmed that defender Paul Quinn has joined up for preseason training.
McKinnon was speaking for the first time since his squad returned to work at St Andrews and was upbeat about his chances of adding more new faces, with at least one likely to arrive as early as today.
In particular, he is keen to boost his attacking threat, with two first-team ready frontmen and another young striker expected to join the already-signed James Keatings at Tannadice.
The United boss is still optimistic that former Hibs midfielder Fyvie will agree terms, while ex-Ross County skipper Quinn has impressed during training even though defence is not a priority area.
McKinnon said: “We are close to signing somebody and also in talks with a few players.”
McKinnon continued: “Everything is going well. Things are ongoing. We would like four strikers at the club this year.
“We have one in already (Keatings) so I am looking at another two senior, established strikers, while the fourth will probably be a good, young kid.
“We are talking to a few players just now and there are a couple in on trial.
“Paul Quinn is in and looks great in training but he has just asked for training facilities and we are happy to give him that opportunity.
“If he looks really good we would have to see where we are but defence isn’t a priority for us at the moment.”
As for Fyvie, McKinnon said: “We are in talks with his representatives and when we have something to say we will make it public. Talks are ongoing with a number of players and we are looking to work with a first-team squad of 18.
“We are getting there and I am happy with how it is going so far.
“We are doing a big changeover and it takes time.
“We are still light at the moment because we have around 14 players and the younger lads so we need to add four bits of quality to take us up to the 18.
“However, we have been putting the players on two-year deals so hopefully there won’t be a massive change again next summer and it will be a case of us hopefully being promoted and sprinkling the side with a bit of quality. I think that’s how we have to try and do it.”
One of the new faces will be a goalkeeper to join number one Cammy Bell, who will continue as captain next season.
McKinnon said: “We are looking right now and have identified someone who we feel can back up and challenge Cammy.”
Someone who has caught the eye in early training is winger Paul McMullan, who could have ended up at Hearts had United not moved quickly.
McKinnon added: “He looks so talented and I think he’s just away to hit his peak. We just need to give him a platform. I knew about him from Celtic but we also saw him last season against Dunfermline.
“We knew there was a deal to be done with Celtic for him and we got in there quickly.”
As the recruitment drive continues, McKinnon revealed he is a lot more relaxed about the progress being made than he was at the same time last year.
“This is more my team now – definitely – and that’s no disrespect to those we had here last season,” he added.
“I am a lot more relaxed now than I was this time last year – I think I was giving myself a heart attack.
“We got some players in early and we just have to bide our time and wait on everything coming together.”