Mellon mellow on

United boss will bide his time to find right players

Dundee United boss Micky Mellon is preaching patience when it comes to adding to his squad.

After almost two weeks in the manager’s hot seat at Tannadice, and just a fortnight away from Premiership opening day, Mellon is yet to make a first-team signing.

He has brought in Scotland U18 goalkeeper Jack Newman but the former Sunderland goalie will likely turn out for Brian Grant’s reserve side next season.

Mellon is in no rush, however, and believes his Championship-winning side deserves respect and the chance to prove themselves as they take on Livingston in a closed-doors friendly today.

He said: “I think it’s still very early doors and the group deserves the respect that they’ve earned from being the champions last season.

“We’ll respect that and we’ll keep giving them the opportunity to perform at the minute.

“I’ll keep looking at it and if I believe there’s a player out there that will make Dundee United’s squad better and they’re available to us then we’ll try to do that.

“At the minute I’m quite calm about it and know where I’m at in terms of organising things in my own head.

“I’ll just continue watching every day to get a picture of the group but it should be an absolute respect with having the champions here. I think people forget that because of the pause in matches.

“We know we’re going to need to step it up because we’re going into a higher level, we’re well aware of that, but I’ll keep watching.

“If a change needs to be made and we have the ability to do that then we’ll do it.”

Mellon insists the Tangerines’ young players will also be handed opportunities to impress as the club adjust to a step up in level, starting with the visit of St Johnstone to Tannadice in two weeks’ time.

“We have to be patient, the 48-yearold former Tranmere gaffer continued.

“You have to tread very carefully because we have the champions here and they deserve a lot of respect.

“We have a lot of young players and nobody knows how they will do until we put them out on a football pitch and see with our own eyes.

“Until then we are all guessing on what the group is going to do.

“This is a transition into a league

Picture: SNS. Dundee United manager Micky Mellon is settling into the Tannadice hot seat.

Scotland U18 goalkeeper Jack Newman, above, is Tannadice boss Micky Mellon’s only signing so far, but he will likely turn out for the reserves next season.