COURTS IS PLAYING IT COOL OVER CONTRACTS

The man Carljohan Eriksson will have to depose to earn a start at United, Benjamin Siegrist, is into the final months of his Tannadice contract and has been linked with a pre-contract move to Rangers.

Courier Sport understands no approach has been made so far this month.

Boss Tam Courts, for his part, is staying relaxed about the situation, along with that of other out-of-contract stars like Jeando Fuchs and Ian Harkes.

“We are in a similar position with two or three other players who are approaching the last two or three months of their contracts,” he said.

“I take a lot of confidence that we have a very transparent relationship with these guys.

“Naturally, we have to be receptive to the fact that once you go into the final few months of a contract then it does cause a nervousness among the fanbase, but I would like to think we will always cover any vulnerability while we are still around the negotiating table.

“Benji is fit and focused and I’m sure he will make the appropriate decision at the right time for himself, whether that be the contract we have proposed or elsewhere.”

On Carson, who has joined Morecambe on loan until the end of the season, Courts revealed a desire to accommodate the Northern Irishman’s personal circumstances fed into United’s decision to allow him to leave.

However, he is hopeful Carson’s absence will not be permanent. Courts said: “We’d been having conversations with Trevor for some time because he has an appetite to play regularly and there was also a little personal thing that we want to be flexible with him on.

“We still hold a lot of hope Trevor will come back and push for the No 1 slot in the summer because he is a top goalkeeper who we really rate and like.”