Dundee United have been handed an early fitness boost for next season by the return to action of James Keatings.
The attacker delayed his summer break to take part in youth coach Dave Bowman’s charity match against a team of fans at Tannadice on Friday night.
It was the first time since January he’d kicked a ball in anger and leaves him on course to be ready for the start of pre-season training next month.
The man who won promotion from the Championship with Hamilton, Hearts and Hibs was seen as a key signing when he joined after leaving the Hibees last summer.
However, the first season of a two-year deal was ruined by a catalogue of injuries.
Early in the campaign he was sidelined by an ankle problem and he hasn’t played since being forced out by a groin condition in January.
That led to surgery but, in recent weeks, he has been building his fitness and has now reached the stage where he can resume playing.
Also turning out for the United greats team on Friday was Craig Easton, with whom talks over a youth coaching role at Tannadice are continuing.
Easton taking charge of the development of the club’s young talent remains very much on the cards.
The 39-year-old was himself a product of United’s youth policy and went on to make more than 200 appearances for the club before continuing his career with Livingston and then a string of lower division clubs south of the border.
Once his playing days were over, he did some coaching in England and, for the past two years, has been in charge of the youths at Raith Rovers. United, meanwhile, are continuing to hold talks with a long list of signing targets for next term.
Dunfermline pair Nicky Clark and Fraser Aird could be fixed up this week.
And Celtic youngster Sam Wardrop is also expected to join what will be a new-look squad.
The 20-year-old played against United last season during a loan spell at Dumbarton that saw him make 27 appearances.
United now know all the teams they will be facing in the Championship next season after Partick Thistle’s relegation was confirmed when they went down to Livingston in the Premiership play-off final.
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