Boss pleased by McMullan’s versatility

Dundee United boss Ray McKinnon has revealed he was sure that playing winger Paul McMullan as a striker was not a gamble, writes Neil Robertson.

The manager was forced into fielding the 21-year-old out of position against Dundee at Dens on Sunday in the Betfred Cup.

The move paid off with McMullan a constant thorn in the side of the Dark Blues defence with his display capped by a finely-taken goal.

Now, with all his recognised strikers once again either injured or suspended for this weekend’s Championship opener at Inverness, McKinnon admits he would have no qualms about playing McMullan up front once more.

The manager said: “We saw Paul play for Celtic in the Under-20s as a striker a few years back and he was outstanding.

“He is different, he’s quick and he comes off defenders.

“We signed him as a winger but I thought he did very well against Dundee.

“It’s great to have someone with that versatility in the squad, someone who can play a few positions.

“And with Scott McDonald suspended, Patrick N’Koyi injured and James Keatings not 100%, then he could play there again at Inverness.

“I was very pleased with the way we attacked against Dundee in the derby, with Paul up front and Billy King and Scott Fraser on either side.”

Picture: SNS Group.