Dundee United boss Robbie Neilson admits he is delighted that Pavol Safranko’s latest goal has gone global – even if the worldwide exposure will possibly make it even harder to sign the striker on a permanent basis.
The stunning counter came as the Tangerines opened the scoring up in Inverness on Saturday in a game they eventually won 2-0.
Safranko headed on to Nicky Clark, who nodded the ball towards Peter Pawlett.
He then back heeled into the path of Safranko, who had continued his run, with the Slovakian international hitting a left-foot volley into the back of the net from 18 yards.
It was a cracking team goal – with world governing body FIFA so impressed they tweeted the video from the United club website to their 12.6 million followers.
Safranko is currently on loan from Danish side Aalborg with Neilson keen to make his move a permanent one but he acknowledged that the striker would be in even more demand after netting what was his second superb volleyed finish in the space of a week.
Neilson said: “It was a decent goal, typical Scottish football – flick, flick, flick, goal!
“It was a great finish from Pav and it was nice to see that. That’s a couple of good finishes the big man has had.
“The clip goes all over the world and it is great exposure for the club and for Scottish football so I am pleased with that.
“It is good for Pav as well.”
Safranko has now netted 14 times for the Tangerines this season but he still has two years left on his deal with Aalborg who paid a substantial six-figure fee when they signed him from Slovakian outfit DAC Dunajska Streda.
Neilson added: “At the end of the day we have made contact (with Aalborg) and it is a case now of waiting until the end of the season and seeing what their thoughts are on it.
“They obviously spent a lot of money on him and that goal being tweeted all over the world doesn’t help us, that’s for sure, but we will wait and see.
“It all depends on Aalborg and what they want to do. He has another few years left there – it is not as if he is coming to the end of his contract.
“Their decision might be whether they bring him back and have a look at him after he has had a year away.
“They will probably do that, bring him back into the group in pre-season and then take it from there.
“Pav just wants to play. He is playing here, enjoying the city, the club, everything which is a positive.
“But as I said, they paid a lot of money for him.”
Safranko has been working hard on the training pitch under the watchful eye of his manager as well as the United striking coach, former Scotland and Rangers front man Lee McCulloch.
Neilson added: “There is no doubting Pav’s quality or the fact that he is a top finisher.
“Lee has been working a lot with him. The two have a good relationship as Lee does with Nicky Clark, Osman Sow and all the strikers.
“They do wee bits of individual work and as a group as well.
“So I am pleased it is coming to fruition.”
United did not pick up any injuries against Inverness with other players making their way back from injury.
Neilson said: “Everyone is fine after Saturday.
“Sam Stanton and Osman Sow will train today and it is just a case of waiting for Cammy Smith and Freddy Frans.
“We are hopeful that Freddy might play before the end of the season.
“It depends as he has been out for a while, but he will do a bit of running and he will be pushed a bit more.
“If we need him, then he will probably play but if we don’t, he will not.
“Lewis Toshney is all right. He had a problem with his knee but he had it scanned and it was all clear.”
