Jim Goodwin is adamant Dundee United will be ready for their European curtain-raiser against UNA Strassen as the Tangerines close in on several summer signings.
The Terrors witnessed a substantial exit of talent over the close season, with Declan Gallagher, Ross Docherty, Louis Moult and Glenn Middleton all departing.
Former loan stars Sam Dalby, Emmanuel Adegboyega, Luca Stephenson and Jack Walton are also notable absentees from the squad that secured continental qualification last term.
The Tannadice outfit have only added Iurie Iovu and Zac Sapsford to their ranks so far. However, it is understood the club are closing in on further reinforcements – with several deals approaching the formalities stage.
And Goodwin firmly believes his group will have the quality and depth to handle Strassen when competitive action commences on July 24.
“We’ve got a couple in already and conversations are ongoing with a number of players,” said Goodwin.
“These things can sometimes be a lengthy process because the good players that we’re identifying tend to have good options. Those negotiations are not something that can be done overnight, so they’re quite a drawn-out process.
“But we are confident when that European tie comes around, we’ll have a very strong and competitive squad.
“Everybody’s aware of the number of players that left in the summer. We’re all understanding of how big a job we’ve got on our hands in terms of rebuilding the squad.
“The work that’s going on behind the scenes has been non-stop; not just through the summer – but for months in advance. We’ve identified some very good players and we’re just trying to get these deals over the line.”
Targeting the groups
He added: “We need a bigger squad than what we had last year.
“We don’t want to be leaving ourselves short, that’s for sure. Especially if we’re going to be playing midweek and Sundays, which is what our ambitions are with regards to trying to reach the group stages of the Conference League.
“Albeit we know how difficult that’s going to be because there’s some very good teams in qualifying.”
The first step towards that ambitious goal is to overcome the challenge of Luxembourg outfit UNA Strassen, who finished second in their domestic top-flight last season.
As Goodwin acknowledges, something of a leap into the unknown – but one that will see the Terrors pegged as firm favourites.
“We’ve got a really good analyst who will be on Wyscout and putting all the video reports together,” continued Goodwin.
“I have to be honest; I don’t have many contacts with a great deal of intelligence on what the Luxembourg league looks like!
“But they finished second in their division and have a striker (Matheus Souza) who scored 22 league goals in 27 games last year.”
The utmost respect
Asked whether Rangers’ humbling defeat at the hands of Progres Niederkorn in 2017 represents a warning from history, Goodwin added: “Without a shadow of a doubt, yes.
“We won’t be taking anything for granted.
“We’ll give them the utmost respect, but hopefully we’ll have more players in the building and be in a good position when that game comes around.”
Conversation