Former Liverpool striker Florent Sinama Pongolle insists he is the right man to help spark a Dundee United revival this season.
The 31-year-old, who has also played for Atletico Madrid in Spain as well as Chicago Fire in the States and latterly, Lausanne in Switzerland, has linked up with the Tangerines this week.
He is determined to prove to boss Mixu Paatelainen he is worthy of a contract and if awarded one, he will do all he can to help lift United off the bottom of the Premiership table.
The Reunion Island-born player said: “I am confident that with my experience I can bring something to this team.
“I think I can help the club.
“This team is better than the league position, there is a new manager here who wants to bring his own mentality.
“He wants to play football that he believes in.
“Dundee United has good players with great ability, everyone is fit and working hard I can see that.
“From working hard every day and getting a set idea of how the manager wants to play, I’m sure Dundee United won’t be in this place long.
“At the moment, I am here for a week and after that I think we will discuss the future.
“I hope we can find an agreement for both sides because I want to help the team go forward.
“Dundee United is a club with a big history and a big name in Scottish football so it should be in the top division.”
Sinama Pongolle revealed he has worked hard to battle his way back to fitness after undergoing knee surgery earlier this year and he is looking to make the most of this opportunity with United.
He said: “The last two years have been hard because of injuries but I am okay now.
“I’m ready and I want to show it.
“I had surgery on my knee in March when I was in Switzerland with Lausanne so that kept me out until the summer.
“In July I wasn’t fit and couldn’t go anywhere for a pre-season with any teams.
“So I had to get myself 100% so that I was able to train properly and that meant doing a lot of work on my own.
“After I did that I went to Le Havre because that is where I started, they received me and I was able to train with the squad.
“It was just about getting fit so that I could come to another club when this came along.
“Dundee United asked to see me so I came over here this week and hopefully I can get a contract here.
“The last match I played was in Chicago and I scored in the final minute of that game.
“So I see that as a positive thing, my last minute of playing an official game I scored.”
Despite having played most of his career abroad, Sinama Pongolle believes the time he spent at Liverpool makes him well suited to the Scottish game.
He added: “I know a bit about Scottish football because I was in England for four years.
“The game here is no different from in England in terms of mentality and the way it is played.
“I will be suited to the style, I enjoy the British way of playing and I want to find my football again.
“The mentality of football in this country is perfect for me and I have no problems with language because I was here before.
“There are many positive things about being in Scotland.”