The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
McNamara to swoop for Doonhamer
Dundee United are today expected to make Queen of the South central defender Mark Durnan their first signing of the summer.
Durnan (22), who has had spells with St Johnstone and Arbroath as well as spending the last three years with the Doonhamers, is seen as a possible replacement for Jarek Fojut, who has returned to Poland.
The Pole’s central defensive partner from last season meanwhile has revealed he hopes to get the nod to be a leader now that Fojut is heading back to his homeland.
Callum Morris and the Pole instantly clicked as a pairing when they lined up for their first competitive match together at Pittodrie on the opening day of last season.
United’s eye-catching 3-0 opening day victory over Aberdeen was built on the foundation laid by Fojut and Morris and a feature of that game was the number of times the big Pole leapt in the air to nod the ball to safety.
It would go on to become a familiar sight when the Tangerines played and, ahead of today’s Ladbrokes Premiership fixture list announcement, the Englishman conceded Fojut’s absence will mean more headers for him when the new campaign that kicks off on August 1.
“Our first game together was the win up at Aberdeen on the opening day of the season and we seemed to click from then on,” said Morris.
“Jarek had come in later for preseason because he had been in Norway and, with Conor Townsend also coming in, it was a pretty new back four.
“However, we gelled really quickly and the results at the start of the season were really good. I enjoyed playing alongside Jarek because I didn’t have to head anything!
“That was a good thing because I didn’t mess my hair up. Seriously, though, he was a big, strong and commanding defender and you all saw how he played last season. So if he does end up moving on it will be a big miss.
Morris was at Tannadice yesterday along with teammates Scott Fraser and Paul Dixon to model the club’s new white and black away strip.
The players will officially return to pre-season training on July 1