The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Courts is confident he’ll pick a derby winner
Dundee United boss Tam Courts is “delighted” to have a difficult Dundee derby goalkeeper dilemma.
Courts will decide in the next 24 hours whether to recall fit-again Benjamin Siegrist for tomorrow’s sellout Tannadice clash or stick with Trevor Carson.
Siegrist has fully recovered from what United first feared to be a serious knee injury.
Carson has kept three clean sheets in four games in the Swiss star’s absence.
Dundee boss James McPake cranked up the derby day mind games earlier this week by insisting Courts has to get “big game decisions right”.
But Courts is thrilled he can pick between fans’ favourite Siegrist and current Northern Ireland cap Carson.
“I’m delighted to be making the decision,” said Courts.
“When you have two high-quality keepers, it’s a great problem to have. We have healthy competition for our keepers.
“When we signed Trevor, we knew we’d have a decision to make with his quality.
“We pre-empted this and as a manager you pride yourself in making big calls.
“It’s a big decision because of the respect I have for both of them, but I’m relaxed about making it. I’ll always pick who I think will heighten the probability of us getting three points.”
Courts has praised Carson for the impact he has made since arriving from Motherwell in the summer.
“Trevor has performed exactly how his quality and experience says he should,” said Courts.
“He’s signed here for two years, so we are looking forward to witnessing a lot of big performances from him.”
Meanwhile, midfielder Calum Butcher believes the timing of Paul McMullan’s move across Tannadice Street was “strange”.
McMullan will make his first Dundee derby appearance in dark blue after his January loan move from United turned permanent in the summer.
The playmaker has made a massive impact for Dundee since his move.
He has two goals and five assists for Dee this season after being the architect of seven goals in 15 last term.
Butcher has no issues with McMullan’s move across the city after a four-year spell at United.
But he does question why ex-United boss Micky Mellon sanctioned the move for the playmaker.
“Paul is a big player for them and someone we need to nullify,” said Butcher, 30.
“He was an important player for us. I thought it was a strange decision for Paul to leave.
“I felt at the time he was doing well for us. The timing of it was strange. When he left in January, we were looking for a little bit of a threat down that side.
“He left and went to our rivals. It was strange but managers see things differently.
“Paul has to look after himself and his future.
“From our point of view it was disappointing at the time, but it’s put to bed now and the players we’ve brought in can deal with big games like the derby.”
Butcher has proved a seasoned pro when it comes to the Dundee derby.
The Englishman will be the only player in the United squad tomorrow to have played in both 6-2 derby wins for the Tannadice club.
He started the victory in January 2015 and netted a double as United replicated that scoreline in August 2019.
It’s 17 years since United lost a city derby at home.
And Butcher, who recently agreed an extended contract, is in no mood for that record to be broken.
“I’m very lucky to have some good memories of the derby,” added Butcher. “I scored two goals in the second 6-2 win.
“You can feel the buzz about the place and the fans getting excited.
“It’s the chance for them to have the bragging rights for the season. When you first sign at Tannadice, you realise how close the stadiums are. It’s surreal.
“Fans always say ‘derbies are the one’. You go into those games with that emotion. I like the emotion of derbies – it’s something I thrive on.
“I struggled last year without the fans, so to have them back in a full house at Tannadice is something to look forward to.”
Meanwhile, United are set to go into the derby with almost a clean bill of health.
Ryan Edwards, Liam Smith and Louis Appere are all nearing full fitness.
Edwards returned to training on Tuesday after picking up a knock in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with St Mirren.
While Smith and Appere are working against the clock with the medical team to declare themselves fit to face Dundee.
● United youngster Flynn Duffy, 18, has signed on loan at Peterhead.
Defender Duffy made the breakthrough this year with starts against Kelty Hearts, Elgin and East Fife in the Premier Sports Cup.