Ryan Strain: PSG, Juventus close shave fuels Dundee United push
Ryan Strain walked away from European football with St Mirren.
He missed out on the opportunity to cross swords with Juventus and PSG in the Champions League.
So, the Dundee United defender has no intention of allowing the carrot of continental football to slip away this season.
Strain, 28, was part of the Buddies side that ended a 37-YEAR wait for European qualification, with Stephen Robinson's men finishing fifth and teeing up Conference League showdowns with Valur and Brann.
However, he walked away to join newly promoted United. It was a switch that raised a few eyebrows; but one that will be vindicated if the Terrors finish above his former club AND seal continental qualification.
'I didn't have any regrets (about leaving) when I was watching St Mirren in Europe,' Strain reflected. 'But you do think that you want to be part of it yourself in the future.
'I watched their game against Brann and thought they did really well.
'It was always my hope to do the same with Dundee United and we're within touching distance of it. This club should be up at this end of the league; should be aiming to play in those European competitions. Hopefully, we're able to get there.
'We're happy with how things have gone but there are four games left, and we still need to kick on.'
Strain is no stranger to European football.
The Australia international reached the Europa Conference League group phase with Maccabi Haifa in 2021/22, with the Israeli side lining up against the likes of Neftci Baku, Dinamo Tbilisi, Feyenoord and Slavia Prague during that adventure.
But the post-script to that journey would prove a 'frustrating' one – with Strain departing before getting a crack at three continental giants in the subsequent campaign. Maccabi even beat Juve 2-0 in Haifa.
'I played in Europe before with Maccabi Haifa, but I'd love to do it here,' he continued. 'We got through the Europa Conference League qualifiers and played against Feyenoord and a few others.
'Then the next season, after I left, they got into the Champions League against PSG, Juventus and Benfica.
'That was a bit frustrating!'
Unless they are usurped by St Mirren in the final weeks of the season, United's current berth of fifth will be enough to seal a Europa Conference League second qualifying round place.
However, with just three points separating the Terrors and third-placed Hibs, Strain is not giving up on loftier goals.
'This weekend is like a cup final,' added Strain. 'Hibs have been in good form but we're full of confidence. We will definitely be going there to win.'
Strain will also be keen to exorcise the ghosts of the last meeting of the sides when Sam Dalby's towering header at Tannadice was ruled out for a phantom handball with the score balanced at 1-1.
Hibs went on to win the match 3-1, with Scottish FA head of refereeing Willie Collum later acknowledging that a mistake was made.
Strain, who whipped in the cross for Dalby's disallowed goal, rued: 'That was a sore one for a few weeks. Going on to lose that game was sickening.
'It actually made it worse when they came out to say it was wrong – it would be better if they'd (SFA) just said nothing! But it's happened now and hopefully we can get the result this time.'
While club matters are his prime priority, a contest against the Hibees is the ideal platform as he seeks to regain his place in the Australia squad.
Strain last represented the Socceroos in a World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh last June and is yet to make a squad under new boss Tony Popovic – albeit he only took the helm in September 2024.
And given Lewis Miller, Martin Boyle and Nectarios Triantis all made Popovic's last group, it is fair to say the Oz gaffer will be keeping a keen eye on events in Edinburgh.
Australia's next fixtures are against Japan and Saudi Arabia this summer.
'The Australia manager (Tony Popovic) was at one of the previous games we played against Hibs,' he added. 'I've not heard from him, but I get messages from the backroom team asking how things are going. I hear from them regularly.
'The Hibs boys have been doing really well and hopefully I can join them in the next squad.'
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