Jim Goodwin has revealed that a deal has been agreed for Bill Hamid to join Dundee United.
However, paperwork delays mean that the U.S. international will not be eligible to face the Dons this evening.
Further clarity regarding when Hamid’s signing will be rubber-stamped is expected over the next week, according to Goodwin.
BILL. HAMID. #RBNYvDC pic.twitter.com/78OcmJEqcB
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 29, 2019
“The deal (for Hamid) has been agreed prior to me taking the role,” revealed Goodwin. “So he will be coming.
“There are one or two visa issues, but I would expect in the next seven to 10 days to have a bit more information.”
Big decisions
Mark Birighitti has endured a testing first season at Tannadice, culminating in a catastrophic error on his most recent outing — allowing Stevie May to tackle him on the goal-line to give St Johnstone a 2-1 win at Tannadice.
Young Jack Newman came in between the sticks for his United debut last weekend and, despite the Tangerines collapsing to a 4-0 defeat, made a couple of very fine saves.
With Carljohan Eriksson out on loan, it will be a choice between those two for a starting berth against the Dons; one of a number of intriguing selection choices for Liam Fox’s successor.
“There have obviously been a couple of key moments in games where his (Birighitti’s) mistakes have led to goals,” continued Goodwin. “Unfortunately for goalkeepers, that tends to be the case.
“But he came here to Dundee United with a really good pedigree and I don’t think he’s become a bad keeper overnight.
“I do think confidence has played a part. As a group, it’s about getting back to basics and getting the discipline right with a good structure in the team — offensively and defensively.”
He added: “I’ve got a decision to make in that department for Saturday, but also in a number of other key areas in the pitch.
“I’ve got some hard calls to make that are maybe going to upset one or two, but it’s in everyone’s best interests that I put the strongest XI on the pitch.”
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