Tannadice trial for Austrian target man

Striker gets chance to impress as Laszlo continues to build new squad

Dundee United boss Csaba Laszlo is set to run the rule over Austria Vienna striker Toni Vastic.

The 25-year-old is the son of Austrian legend Ivica Vastic, who scored 124 goals in 250 appearances for Sturm Graz between 1994 and 2002.

Vastic Jnr also had a spell with English outfit Blackburn Rovers and has represented his country at age group levels from Under-16 to Under-21.

The 6ft 3in front man will now try to convince Laszlo he deserves a deal with the manager also revealing he is close to signing another player, believed to be Congolese winger Yannick Loemba.

Laszlo said: “This week I will bring somebody in. He is from Austria Vienna and I want to test him.

“He is a big striker and we are still thinking we need a target man.

“We are also talking with one other player and we hope to sign him later this week.”

United face the long trip north on Saturday to take on Elgin City in their final Betfred Cup game.

Laslzo has made no secret of the fact that he regards these group stage matches as part of his side’s pre-season build-up as they prepare for their league opener against Dunfermline on August 4.

However, the manager acknowledged that his players, who were beaten on penalties after drawing with Alloa at Tannadice on Saturday, could do with a confidence boost when they travel to Borough Briggs for what is essentially a dead rubber.

Laszlo said: “Craig Curran is still struggling with his dead leg but hopefully he will be with us by the middle of the week.

“Billy King has had an injection and we hope he can join us next week.

“The rest of the players are OK.

“There is a lot of tiredness mentally and physically from the weekend.

“Especially mentally as the game against Alloa was one where everyone was waiting for us to win 5-0, 6-0 or whatever.

“We drew but on the other side we are in pre-season and trying to build a team.

“We know it is not nice for the fans and the club if you do not do well in the cup and you have a lot of noise now about why we don’t win.

“I understand and appreciate that but to be honest, I just want the boys to be fit for the first league game.

“We have two weeks until the season begins and we have one game.

“I would like one more but it is not really possible.

“The Elgin game is now the most important one for the confidence.

“Our biggest problem until now is that we have to score more goals.

“The likes of James Keatings has just come back from injury after being out for eight months.

“Nicky Clark is the new boy and he has to adapt to our game.

“Unfortunately, Craig Curran is out with injury, while Billy King has missed all the games.

“But we have to score more goals, definitely.”

Csaba Laszlo: Looking for more goals.