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EXCLUSIVE: Ultimate Panutche Camara lowdown from Dundee United Championship title winner as 14km shift proves no sweat

Mark Connolly played 49 times with United's latest summer arrival.

Panutche Camara during a United photocall.
Pautche Camara. Image: Dundee United Football Club.

Panutche Camara’s infectious personality and tireless work ethic is destined to make him a firm fans favourite at Dundee United.

That is the view of former Tannadice defender Mark Connolly, who played alongside the Guinea-Bissau international for two seasons at Crawley Town.

Camara, 28, penned a two-year deal with the Tangerines last Friday, linking up with fellow summer arrivals Zac Sapsford and Iurie Iovu.

They could soon be joined by Toulouse attacker Said Hamulic and Ukrainian keeper Yevhen Kucherenko.

United took advantage of a relegation clause in Camara’s Crawley contract to swoop, bolstering the Terrors’ engine room ahead of what Jim Goodwin hopes will be a respectable tilt at European football and another top six finish in the Premiership.

And Connolly reckons the capture of “Pan” is a coup.

Panutche Camara, No.12, towers to win an aerial challenge.
Camara, No.12, towers to win an aerial challenge. Image: Shutterstock.

“Pan has bundles of energy in the middle of the park,” Connolly told Courier Sport.

“I remember playing with him and I’d regularly come off the field tired and sweating. Then, you’d look across the dressing room at Pan and the guy wouldn’t have broken sweat!

“He would run 13km or 14km in games and you wouldn’t know it.

“He will never stop working. He’ll never down tools and you never worry about him not trying hard every day.

“In my time at Crawley, when he left (for Plymouth Argyle), the fans were absolutely gutted. He was a real fan favourite there and I’ve no doubt that’ll be the exact same Dundee United.

“Knowing United fans, and how much they want to see a team that gives everything and grafts, they’ll really take to Pan.”

Personality and technical progress

Camara joined Crawley Town from non-league outfit Dulwich Hamlet; a step up that Connolly has seen “eat up” other players.

But such was Camara’s impact and development with the Red Devils, he earned a move to Plymouth Argyle in 2020. Within two campaigns, he landed a high-profile switch to Ipswich and Guinea-Bissau recognition.

While injuries hampered his progress at Portman Road, Connolly firmly believes that career path proves his old pal is more than just a runner.

Panutche Camara hares after the ball during his time with Crawley.
Camara hares after the ball during his time with Crawley. Image: Shutterstock.

“When Pan came to Crawley, he came from the non-league,” recalled the Irishman. “And coming into the EFL really is a huge step up. It can eat players up and they can fall back into non-league.

“But Pan worked really hard on the technical side of his game and has reaped the rewards. He gets back and he can tackle, but he got better on the ball every season.

“You just don’t go to clubs like Plymouth and Ipswich if you’re not technically good enough.”

On what he will bring to the United dressing room – a crucial aspect of this summer’s recruitment following the departures of several leaders – Connolly added: “He brings a big smile all the time.

Mark Connolly, pictured, is now club captain with League of Ireland side Derry City
Mark Connolly, pictured, is now club captain with League of Ireland side Derry City. Image: Shutterstock.

“Whenever he’s in the dressing room, he’s very infectious. He’s a good lad.

“Pan doesn’t always speak a lot, but he knows the craic and he was always positive around the group, never too low; quite upbeat. He does most of his talking on the pitch.”

An interested observer

With 67 appearances for the Tangerines in the books – helping the club win the Championship title in 2019/20 – the current Derry City captain knows all about the expectations and pressures of life at Tannadice.

Similarly, stints with Kilmarnock, St Johnstone and Dunfermline make him a veteran of the Scottish game.

However, he’ll resist the temptation to offer any unsolicited advice and, instead, simply watch Camara and United’s progress with interest.

Mark Connolly celebrates a goal against Queen of the South during his Dundee United days
Mark Connolly celebrates a goal against Queen of the South during his Dundee United days. Image: SNS

He smiled: “Pan has been around the block and has been to a right few big clubs now – so I don’t think he’ll need my words of wisdom on how to do well at United!

“If he ever does, he can send me a message.

“But I have no doubt that he’ll be successful there and hopefully he can be a big part of United pushing on from last year. The European draw looks not too bad, so fingers crossed they can do well.

“I’m buzzing to see the club on an upward trajectory again.

“Jim Goodwin and everyone at the club deserve a lot of credit.”

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