I’m ready for derby debut, insists new No1
DUNDEE UNITED’S new goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima jetted into Scotland last night and revealed he is ready and willing to make a dramatic derby debut against Dundee tomorrow.
Exasperated Tannadice boss Mixu Paatelainen is set to turn to the experienced Japan international after Polish stopper Michal Szromnik had a disastrous display in Wednesday’s 3-2 loss at Hearts, which included parrying a straightforward Prince Buaben shot into his own net.
Shortly after landing at Edinburgh Airport yesterday, Kawashima vowed he would relish the prospect of being handed a baptism of fire in the white heat of tomorrow lunchtime’s derby at Dens Park.
And after confirming he is ready to play, the keeper vowed to bring his battling qualities to Paatelainen’s relegation-haunted side.
He said: ‘Dundee United are a young team and they want more experience in their squad. I feel I can bring my experience but also I want to show my fighting spirit.’
Paatelainen, whose side are 10 points adrift at the foot of the table, plans to assess Kawashima in his first training session today before making the final decision to put him in ahead of Szromnik.
While vowing to leave the decision as late as possible, he hinted that he would have no qualms in accepting Kawashima’s offer to play tomorrow if he feels he is fit and ready.
The United boss also knows the 32-year-old is no stranger to the big occasion, having played for Japan in all their games at the World Cup Finals in Brazil in 2014 and South Africa 2010.
Capped 72 times for his country, he also once saved a penalty from England’s Frank Lampard in a friendly six years ago.
‘Eiji Kawashima will challenge for a starting place immediately,’ said Paatelainen, who confirmed international clearance for the keeper had arrived after he passed an English exam.
‘He is a very fit and professional guy so, on that front, there is no problem. But he hasn’t played recently and derbies are fast and furious matches, as we all know. So we will look at the situation.
‘He will train with the team for the first time on Friday and then I will make my decision.
‘I will leave it as late as possible but he is an experienced guy and he will know if he is ready.’
Paatelainen’s anger at his team’s poor defending at Tynecastle on Wednesday was exacerbated by a further blow when it was confirmed yesterday that centre-half Callum Morris will be out for up to two months through injury.
The 25-year-old went over on his knee against Hearts and suffered a grade-two medial tear in what was only his third game back since an Achilles injury in October.
‘Callum is going to be out for six weeks to two months,’ sighed the Tannadice manager. ‘He doesn’t get much luck. It’s not what anyone wants to see.
‘He is a good defender, quick and aggressive and he will be a loss. But there’s no point crying about it because it happens in football.
‘But we are now without two centre-halves and possibly we will have to change things for Dundee. We don’t have a lot of options and it is a concern.’
The other centre-half missing for the derby is Mark Durnan after he received a red card at Tynecastle.
That means young John Souttar could be brought back into central defence, but the 19-year-old was subjected to some cat-calls from the United support after coming on as a second-half substitute against Hearts.
A long-term target for Celtic, the United fans fear Souttar is poised to sign a pre-contract and become the latest Tannadice player after Gary Mackay-Steven, Stuart Armstrong and Nadir Ciftci to move to Parkhead.
Paatelainen insists he knows nothing of that and has called on the United fans to get behind Souttar if he plays at Dens.
‘I wasn’t really aware of that (a bad reaction to Souttar at Tynecastle),’ said Paatelainen.
‘But there have been rumours about Celtic. I know that. It doesn’t help. But it’s just rumours. There’s nothing in it, as far as I know. There’s been no approach or anything like that.
‘But you can understand how the supporters feel — especially with the rumours being about Celtic. Is it a bit raw? Exactly that!
‘I can understand the supporters being frustrated but it doesn’t help a player if his own fans turn against him.
‘The bottom line is we have two full days to get ready for this Dundee match and we will do everything to be ready for one of our biggest games of the season.
‘Yes, Dundee’s game with Celtic was postponed in midweek while we played at Hearts but, when you have a derby coming up, you forget you’ve played a game three days beforehand.
‘I’ve got great memories as a player myself with Dundee United against Dundee in the derby. And some not so fantastic memories also. You can’t always win these games.
‘They are always special occasions but my time is gone as a player. It’s about these guys now. It’s their time now.’