Dundee United new boy Richie Ryan will be put through his paces to ensure he hits the ground running for the Tangerines.
The Irish midfielder is arriving this week to kickstart his Tannadice career, although he won’t be able to play until the home match against Aberdeen on January 2 the first game after the transfer window opens.
Ryan (26) will be kept busy in the meantime, with United having recruited fitness coach Andy Murray to do a winter ”pre-season” with the player.
The plan is to have him fit and ready to step straight into battle against the Dons.
”Richie is coming in this week to start training with the lads,” said manager Peter Houston. ”He has had a holiday because he played 40-odd games for Sligo Rovers and it is important he gets a break.
”He is desperate to get started with us. We will be getting Andy Murray, the fitness guy who helped us in pre-season, to do a programme for him so that by the time the new year comes he is ready to go.”
Houston is backing Ryan to make an instant impact for the Tangerines, who have been buoyed by their excellent comeback win at Inverness Caley Thistle on Saturday.
As well as his time in Ireland, he tasted English football during a spell with Scunthorpe United. He was a young player then but has gathered plenty of experience since and Houston thinks he will be able to adjust to the Scottish game.
”Richie was a young boy when he played in England with Scunthorpe then went back to Ireland after that,” said Houston. ”He is now ready to kick on with his career in Scotland.
”He rediscovered his career at Sligo and is 26 now, which is a great age to get him at.
”He will definitely add something different to our team. So we are looking forward to getting him in and working with him.”