The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Pawlett keen to see key team-mates extend stay
Peter Pawlett has urged star trio Benjamin Siegrist, Ian Harkes and Jeando Fuchs to follow Kieran Freeman’s lead in signing new deals.
Freeman penned a new two-year extension earlier this week to pledge his future to United until 2024.
Youngster Archie Meekison followed suit with a similar deal.
And now Pawlett hopes it will be the start of a signing spree with fans’ favourites Siegrist, Harkes and Fuchs all out of contract in the summer.
None of the players have committed their future to United yet and they will all have suitors – with Fuchs claiming his agent has been contacted by both Celtic and Rangers.
But Pawlett hasn’t given up hope of starring alongside them next term.
“I’d love to see them sign new contracts,” said Pawlett.
“We want good players in our team and I want to play with players like that. But everyone has different ambitions.
“I can say ‘just sign a contract’ but that’s the not the way they make decisions. They have agents and families and take everything into consideration. Of course we want them to stay but they will have their own ideas and ambitions.
“It might be that those ambitions are at Dundee United and to help the club go even further. Let’s hope and pray that’s the case.
“The manager wants to create a close-knit group and we do have a close-knit group here.
“But if you see boys extending contracts it makes a big difference to you.
“When there’s a bit of uncertainty and people could leave it might cause a bit of unrest. But maybe not. Dundee United has lost players in the past and rebuilt to be successful again. Either way we’ll continue to fight.
“We’d like Benji, Jeando and Ian to be here longer. We’d all love them to stay but it’s not down to us.”
Pawlett has also revealed how Freeman’s infectious “old school” personality has won over his United team-mates.
Freeman penned a new two-year extension earlier this week to commit his future to Dundee United until 2024.
And after making a big impact on the park this term, midfielder Pawlett has revealed how the player they dubbed Sheep has won a host of new followers at Tannadice.
“Kieran has been brilliant,” said Pawlett. “He has always shown an enthusiasm and hard work.
“He’s a fit lad. He’s always up there on runs in preseason. With Liam Smith getting injured he’s had a chance and he’s taken it.
“He deserves his new contract. I’m really pleased for him and hopefully he can go on to have a really strong season.
“We call him Sheep because he’s from Aberdeen and he’s a great boy. He’s full of enthusiasm and is proper old school.
“He just gets his head down and works. As an older player I like to see young boys put in that level of enthusiasm.
“He’s out in shorts and T-shirt every day. It’s minus 6 and he’s kicking about, training in that sort of gear. You think to yourself ‘what’s he doing?’
“But it underlines the type of character he is. He just gets on with it and never complains about anything.
“Southampton took him when he was younger and he has had three serious knee injuries. That’s horrendous.
“But it tells you a lot about his character that he’s come back from that.
“Fair play to him. We want good players in our team and to play with good players like Kieran.”
Pawlett is aiming to get back on track against Livingston today.
United have only won one game in their last seven but remain in fourth place by virtue of goal difference.
“You think ‘oh no, we’re in a bad run,’” added Pawlett. “Then you look at the league and think we are fine.
“We are in a good position but there are still regrets. There were opportunities that we didn’t take. We have quite a few games to come before the winter break and we are all very positive about the situation.
“We’ve fallen below the standards we have shown before. None of us have really hit the levels we are capable.
“But we’re not going to have a perfect season. There was always going to be a bump on the road and it’s certainly not all gloom and doom.”