The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Tangerines swoop to add pair to promotion push
Laszlo says Aird and Curran will add firepower up front
Fraser Aird is looking for fresh starts with both club and country after joining Dundee United on a two-year contract.
Aird made it a Tangerine double when he teamed up at Tannadice yesterday with striker Craig Curran, who had signed a three-year deal hours earlier.
The 23-year-old wide player left Dunfermline to join their Championship rivals at the conclusion of his East End Park contract and he is now hoping to wing his way back into the Canada side as well as make a flying start with United.
Aird caught the eye when he scored for the Canadians in a 1-1 friendly draw with Scotland at Easter Road in March last year but didn’t feature in their latest squad for a game against New Zealand a couple of months ago.
Now the former Rangers man hopes to be fighting on two fronts.
He said: “I am delighted to get the deal over the line.
“The club has big ambitions. Obviously they want to get promoted back to the Premiership and that’s my goal too.
“I want to play at the highest level possible and hope I can get the chance to do that here at United.
“Playing at a big club, hopefully I can go on and express myself.
“I would also love to play for my country again.
“I have eight caps for Canada already and probably one of the biggest achievements of my career has been playing for my country.
“So I hope I can get back to doing that. “That will come with playing games, getting my confidence back up and doing well for United.
“If I can do well for my club then I hope I can get called up for my country again.”
Aird caused United some real problems despite finishing on the losing side with the Pars in the recent play-off semi-final.
He has in-depth knowledge of the division and is confident he can help United win the league next time around.
“I know what the Championship is like because I have played there the last two seasons,” added Aird.
“So I know how difficult it is going to be but there is a good plan in place here and I am looking forward to being a big part of it.
“Hopefully, I can bring my experience and I am also enthusiastic – that’s a good word – and have plenty of pace.
“I am a wide player who likes to attack and I would say that is probably my biggest attribute.
“I like to get the ball into the box and hopefully I can also pop up with a few goals.
“The manager and the club are putting faith in me so I want to play the way I know I can.”
United boss Csaba Laszlo said: “This is another piece in building our squad for the 2018/19 season.
“I am really happy to have signed Fraser.
“The player had other options but was determined to join us.
“He is a player who can play either right-wing or right-wing back and adds to our attacking options.
“He is a good age at 23 but has plenty of experience.”
Earlier in the day, United confirmed Curran as a new arrival from Ross County.
The 28-year-old Englishman left the relegated Staggies after three seasons in Dingwall, where he played over 100 times and scored 23 goals.
The chirpy Liverpudlian frontman feels his new team can benefit from his mental strength as they look to escape the Championship at the third time of asking.
Curran said: “I am aggressive, loud and hungry . I am willing to fight and not stop.
“I have a strong mentality and that’s what I think we will need here if we are going to go up.
“I have come here to get the club back into the Premiership.
“I think the signings we have been making have shown that’s where we want to go.
“That is the only thing we need to concentrate on.
“I don’t think you need to say too much about size of the club, its history and fanbase. They speak for themselves.
“As soon as they contacted me it was something I was definitely interested in.
“I had a few offers to stay in the Premiership, which I mulled over, but I realised this is where I want to be. “Promotion – that’s the main aim. “This is too big a club not to be in the Premiership. That shows the job we have to do and we have to take care of it.”
United boss Laszlo was delighted that Curran picked the Tangerines ahead of some top-flight sides.
Laszlo said: “Craig had offers from Premiership clubs so I am delighted he has chosen to come to Tannadice.
“He is an experienced forward who I believe will score goals for us.”