Ray’s signings look to be on the button

I LIKE the way Ray McKinnon has gone about his transfer business so far at Dundee United.

And if he secures the signature of my old mate Willo Flood between now and the beginning of the league season next month, I’d even go far as to say United fans should be encouraged about what lies ahead.

Willo would slot in perfectly beside new boy Stewart Murdoch in the middle of the park.

With John Rankin and Paul Paton leaving at the end of last season, there was a big hole to fill in that area.

They were influential players for United over the past few seasons.

The two of them gave great service but, for me, a Flood-Murdoch partnership wouldn’t just be a case of finding adequate replacements, it would be improving that area of the team.

That might be a big statement but the coming months should prove me right.

Murdoch is Premiership quality and, from my time playing with him, I know Willo is that and a good bit more.

As well as being a very good player, he is one who demands high standards of everyone around him — and I should know from the number of times he used to moan at myself and others in games and in training.

The manager’s other signings so far have also encouraged me.

In Lewis Toshney, I have a feeling he’s got a player who is now ready to turn the potential he showed as a kid into consistently-good performances.

At Celtic and just after he left there, Toshney was unlucky with injuries and that held his progress back a bit. But he had a full season under McKinnon at Raith last year and did very well.

If he stays fit, I’m sure he will have a big season for United.

Add to them signings like keeper Cammy Bell and the punters can start feeling good again.

The calibre of those players tells me United will be capable of mounting a strong challenge.

With Hibs appointing Neil Lennon, a lot of fans will be worried about them and they are, probably, rightly favourites for automatic promotion.

But the bottom line is always what the players actually do on the park.

And the men United have already signed along with those who are to come, suggest to me the Hibees won’t have things all their own way.

Lewis Toshney has the chance to show he can turn in consistently-good performances at Dundee United.