Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
United must add goals to bolster promotion bid
TWO of the three signings Dundee United have made in this transfer window, as ma nager Robbie Neilson looks to add the quality he feels he needs to w i n automatic promotion, have been at tac k-m i nded in t he shape of Aidan Nesbitt and Cammy Smith.
And it should come as no surprise the manager will continue to work to bolster his attack between now an the end of the month by adding another central striker to his options.
Although the Tangerines’ narrow victory over Dunfermline last weekend saw them close the gap to Championship leaders Ross County to just three points, not lost on Neilson will be the fact the three points taken from the Pars clash was only his team’s second win in their last seven.
During that run, only once have United, i n the pre-Christmas victory over Falkirk, scored more than a single goal, highlighting the need for a player to be found who can provide a more frequent goal supply than has been forthcoming of late.
If Nicky Clark, the man who got the weekend winner against one of his former clubs, stays fit, it’s fair to assume he will hit the back of the net frequently.
A proven scorer, particularly at this level, his return of six goals in 14 appearances since joining up in the summer represents a pretty decent goals-to-game ratio.
The issue for the 27-year-old has been getting on the pitch.
Injury problems mean he has missed almost half the games so far and if you take into account the number of times when, like last Saturday, he’s only been fit enough for the bench, more than half United’s game time this season has been without him.
As well as reduce the goal threat, his absences have given the manager a tactical headache.
Since early on in his time in charge, Neilson has said he would like to be able to go with the option of playing two out-and-out central strikers.
More often than not, though, on-loan Pavol Safranko has had to be used in that role on his own.
And as much as his admirable