Latest news with #RyanStrain
The Courier
6 days ago
- General
- The Courier
Ryan Strain identifies key change he must make as Dundee United star targets pre-season springboard
Ryan Strain does not believe Dundee United fans have yet seen him at his best. But that's something the determined full-back is aiming to change this season. Strain arrived at Tannadice last summer having made himself one of St Mirren's star men – and an Australian internationalist – over the previous two campaigns, A nasty hamstring injury quickly derailed the 28-year-old's hopes of getting a full pre-season under his belt with United. In the following months, he always felt he was playing catch-up. But after a crucial sit-down with manager Jim Goodwin towards the end of last term, Strain is ready to show everyone at Tannadice what he's really made of. 'The manager is the one who convinced me to come here,' explained Strain, who only narrowly missed out on making the Australia squad for this month's World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia. 'Obviously I got injured early and missed the whole of pre-season really, so it's always hard to catch up. 'The gaffer has always backed me, so as soon as I came back in I've been desperate to repay him. 'He's a great manager. 'We have been changing a few times with wingers and full-backs, when it's wing-backs it's about getting the ball into the box. 'I had a meeting with the manager about two months ago and he told me to simplify my game and get back to what I was doing at St Mirren.' But what had been going wrong for Strain at United? The answer, he believes, is deceptively simple. 'I think I had been trying too hard,' Strain admits. 'I think when I came back from my injury that was the case. 'You try to get your bearings again, you don't forget what you're good at but you try too hard and that takes away from the things that brought you success before. 'So I've simplified things, just getting past a man then getting the ball into the box. 'I had a few assists [late in the season] so it's working and I feel good. 'I had six assists and four goals in my first season in Scotland, and I think I had three last season. 'I just want to get a good pre-season, get fitter over the summer and go again.'
News.com.au
28-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Alessandro Circati poised to be chosen in Socceroos squad for FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia
Alessandro Circati seems a certain inclusion in the Socceroos squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia after being added to a group of players at a national training camp in the United Arab Emirates. The 21-year-old ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in September last year but has made a successful return to club football, playing full matches in Parma's final two matches of the Italian Serie A season. While Circati is set to named in the Socceroos squad being announced on Sunday, Dundee United defender Ryan Strain won't be among those selected, having left the UAE camp to return to Scotland after suffering a hamstring injury. The Socceroos meet Japan at Perth's Optus Stadium on Thursday week before travelling to Jeddah for their June 11 (AEST) clash with Saudi Arabia. Australia's squad will be a mix of players from the training camp as well as those whose club commitments have prevented them from being in the UAE. Four goalkeepers – Mat Ryan, Joe Gauci, Paul Izzo and Thomas Glover – are at the training camp; however, only three are expected to be named in the final squad. 'Everyone wants to put themselves in the best position to be up for selection when we qualify for the World Cup,' said Gauci, who missed the Socceroos' matches in March against Indonesia and China due to a hip injury he suffered in February playing for English League One (third tier) club Barnsley, where he was on loan from Premier League outfit Aston Villa. 'Having missed out on March, to see the growth of the squad from (the camp in) November (last year) to now is fantastic.' Socceroos skipper Ryan has played in Australia's past three matches, with Gauci having been between the posts for the national team's three games before that. 'Maty has been a fantastic mentor and role model, and a younger me would be going crazy to say that he is able to compete for the No.1 spot for Australia,' Gauci said. 'Whatever happens in the upcoming games, you're working to play. That's not only myself and Maty but Paul and Tommy also,' Gauci said. 'We're all working with that mindset that we're going to be called upon at any moment.' As for his club future, Gauci, 24, said he would 'put his best foot forward' on his return to Villa for pre-season training. 'My main focus is to play for Aston Villa, whether that's next season or the years that follow,' he said. There is speculation that Villa's first-choice keeper, Argentine Emiliano Martinez, might leave the club despite being contracted, while 35-year-old Swedish custodian Robin Olsen will depart the club to join Malmo FF. 'There are opportunities. It's up to me to take them,' Gauci said.
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Ryan Strain reveals why he cut his Dundee United European celebrations short
The full back quickly jetted off to join up with the Socceroos after winning his first senior call-up Dundee United hero Ryan Strain was more than happy to cut his Euro qualification party short to return to the Australia squad. The full-back helped United to finish in fourth place but less than 24 hour later he was flying out to Abu Dhabi to join up with the Socceroos. Strain has been called up by now Aussie boss Tony Popovic for the first-time and is desperate to impress so he keeps his place for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia. The defender beamed: 'It is brilliant to have qualified (for Europe). I enjoyed Saturday night with the boys and we had a celebration. Unfortunately, I missed the player of the year night because I flew out to join up with the Australia squad. 'You know, obviously, it is great to get back in the Australia squad. 'I kept saying to you when I come back from injury, that all I wanted to do is get back in that fold again. 'It's a pre-camp, so it's not the final squad but it's just good to be around that again. 'It's amazing and hopefully, I can get into the final squad.' Strain is hoping to get some extra time off after his international stint. He is keen to avoid the issues he had last season, when he joined up for pre-season with a groin issue. The United star admitted: 'I will need to speak to the gaffer. Hopefully, he gives me another week off because I don't want to come back and get injured again, so, hopefully, I can just manage things myself. 'So, obviously, I did that last year and got injured. 'This time I want to come back, have a full pre-season. 'If I can get a full pre-season, I know I can do even better this year, so, next year, so.' Strain turned his back on Europe with St Mirren to move to United. He then predicted his new team would be in the European fight. He was proved right. Strain claimed: '(It's) Unbelievable, you know, I came here with big ambitions. 'You know, it's a massive club and I said at the start I want to get to Europe. 'To have done that is amazing. 'I left St Mirren before the European tour with them and to do it with United is great. I just can't wait now. 'What a season, what a group we have, you know, the coaching staff have always believed in us.' Strain has helped a lot of praise for United's success at the feet of manager Jim Goodwin. He explained: 'For me, anyway, because, obviously, he's come in and shown trust in me. 'I got injured early on. Since I have come back, he's started me and he's put trust in me. It is good to know he has faith in me. 'I've just got to thank him and I'm buzzing for him as well because, you know, he's been working really hard to bring success. 'It is, obviously, his first win after the split, so I'm buzzing for that as well. 'He was getting a fair bit of stick from the Aberdeen fans, so it was, obviously, quite nice that he got the last laugh. 'He was there and, obviously, they don't like him, but he's here and he's loved now. 'Hopefully, we can have a good European tour next year.'
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Dundee United 2-1 Aberdeen: Analysis
Jim Goodwin said pre-match that going into the final game with a chance for fourth place was an achievement in itself, given United were only promoted this was right. But given they went into the split with a nine-point advantage over St Mirren which rapidly disappeared, it might not have felt like a successful season had they ended it happened they rediscovered what had made them an effective team in the Premiership at the crucial has kept it simple. A solid structure and hard-working players with a big man up front in Dalby who has been lethal in the box when given quality service through Will Ferry, Ryan Strain, Middleton and others swinging in they turned to that after the first 30 minutes they got so much joy against a frail Aberdeen team and eventually their series of crosses paid has not been a thrilling recipe but Goodwin understands what it takes to be successful in the is to his and United's credit that with a much-reduced budget and some significant injuries in a long season, they have finished as the league's fourth best may want more in attack next season but all of that can wait. They can enjoy the warm glow of a fruitful campaign.
The Courier
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
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.'
