Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin has been fielding questions ahead of Saturday's Premiership clash with Kilmarnock, and there's plenty to unpack for the Tannadice faithful.
First up, the future of star wing-back Will Ferry. Goodwin has made it crystal clear: "Without a shadow of a doubt," the club will be offering the 25-year-old a contract extension. With just a year left on his current deal and rival clubs circling, Goodwin admits Ferry is "really high up on a lot of teams' lists." It's no surprise—Ferry's pace and creativity have made him a standout in United's system.
But it's not just about keeping their own. Goodwin has already locked in pre-contracts for forward Jesse Randall and striker Lachlan Rose, and he's hinted at more to come. "We have a list of players we believe are realistic targets," he said, signaling the club's ambition to build a squad that can push for a top-six finish and European contention. Currently sitting seventh, Goodwin sees United as a team that belongs higher up the table. "We know where we went wrong, we know the areas we need to improve on," he added.
Saturday's trip to Kilmarnock won't be a walk in the park, though. Goodwin is bracing for a "really difficult game" against a Killie side "fighting for their lives" in second-bottom spot. With the season winding down, every point matters.
Injuries have been a recurring theme for United this season, and Goodwin isn't shying away from the issue. "I think that is something we will look at when we do our end-of-season review," he explained. "We sit down as a staff—the medical department, the strength and conditioning guys, everybody—and we will see the areas where we think we can improve for next season to make sure we don't end up in a similar situation." It's a proactive approach that should give fans confidence the club is learning from its setbacks.
On the team news front, United are monitoring a few players who picked up "niggles" during last weekend's derby win over Dundee, adding to an already lengthy injury list. With key men sidelined, depth will be tested—but Goodwin's squad is showing resilience when it matters most.