United boss welcomes interest in playmaker

Laszlo relaxed over Wigan link

Csaba Laszlo is relaxed about speculation linking Scott Fraser with a move because it shows he and the team must be doing something right.

The Dundee United playmaker, whose contract runs out next May, has reportedly been interesting English League One side Wigan Athletic, a club that was also supposed to be keen on him last year.

Rather than rage at Fraser being possibly unsettled and/or distracted, Laszlo has taken it as a compliment to both club and player.

The Tannadice manager said: “If Scott is playing bad games or is just on the bench maybe he would not be linked with teams from a higher level. So for me that shows that Scott and Dundee United are moving in the right way. “I am relaxed about it.

“If you stay in mid-table and have a player like him struggling then nobody will be asking about Scott Fraser.”

“So this means that everything is OK and Scott is doing a good job,” added Laszlo.

“I was angry with him on Saturday because he should have scored four goals.

“Maybe if he had scored four instead of two he would have had interest from, for example, a club like West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League rather than just League One.

“If you wake up some big team’s interest this means that they are looking at us as a club and we have other good players too.

“This could be very positive because you can say to every single player: ‘Look, if you play well then somebody will be interested in you.

“I see that as a positive.” Laszlo recognises that he has a very skilful player on his hands, witness Fraser’s two goals against Dunfermline at the weekend.

However, he added: “Scott is a really talented player but talent is not enough.

“You also have to have the will to move forward – that is really important.

“If you don’t have that then you can put the talent in the dustbin because it won’t mean anything.

“Scott does work really hard and it’s not just him because everyone is working hard here.”

Meanwhile, United fans can expect the club to be busy during the transfer window, with up to four new faces coming in.

Burnley striker Jamie Thomas is scheduled to arrive on trial next week and there will be a few more following him through the entrance door.

Manager Laszlo confirmed: “It is not a secret that while a team may be looking at Scott Fraser we are also looking at other players.

“I have, at the moment, four positions in my mind because you need to think about competition and maybe having injuries.”

Scott Fraser celebrates one of his goals with Sam Stanton.