Latest news with #Strain
The Courier
a day 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.'
Daily Tribune
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Tribune
Isa Town access road approved to ease traffic and ambulance delays
A new entry and exit between Shaikh Salman Highway and Riyadh Avenue in Isa Town has been backed by the Southern Municipal Council amid rising concerns over traffic build-up and emergency vehicles getting stuck in jams. The proposal, put forward by councillor Abdulla Saleh Darraj, is intended to ease daily congestion and prevent delays to ambulances and fire engines during peak hours. The existing routes, limited to one by the Isa Town Gate and another near Toyota Plaza, have proven insufficient, especially given the number of schools and public buildings in the area. The roads are regularly choked, particularly when events are held at Khalifa Sports City. Strain Darraj said the situation was placing undue strain on residents and called for a direct link to ease pressure and ensure safe passage for emergency services. Elsewhere in the session, councillor Abdulla Ahmed Bubshait won support for a plan to plant trees and tidy up Road 38 in Jary Al Shaikh. The stretch, which serves as a key route into both Jary Al Shaikh and A'ali, has been left bare, with kerbs covered in dust and grit. Bubshait argued the makeover would help tidy up the area, improve its look, and offer some cover against dust, all while echoing government drives to green public spaces. Full upgrade In Riffa, councillor Ahmed Abdulla Al Abdulla secured backing for a full upgrade of Block 918. The plan includes new drainage, repaving both sides of the road using ground brick, an overhaul of lighting, and laying underground channels to avoid repeated digging. Directional and warning signs are also to be added. Daily demands The council said many roads in the area had aged past their use and now needed rebuilding to keep up with daily demands. The works, they noted, fall within the broader plans for upgrading transport links as set out in Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030. In Zallaq, councillor Hamad Ali Al Zaabi received support for his proposal to convert a section of land in the new housing project into proper parking. The site, part of Plot No. 11002346 by Road 5643, has seen increasing pressure from parked vehicles, many of which block entrances or take up unsuitable spots.
The Courier
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Why Ryan Strain missed Dundee United player of the year awards as graft continues
There's no rest for Ryan Strain. While Dundee United's campaign reached its stunning denouement on Saturday – with Strain winning the decisive penalty in a 2-1 triumph over Aberdeen – his season goes on. Strain was named in the Australia camp for their training camp in Abu Dhabi. He is bidding to retain his place when the squad is whittled down for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Japan (June 5) and Saudi Arabia (June 10). The quick turnaround meant that Strain had to jet out to the United Arab Emirates on the morning after that stirring triumph over the Dons, missing out on United's player of the year awards ceremony later that night. However, Strain wouldn't have it any other way as he eyes a return to the Socceroos side for the first time since June 2024. The former St Mirren man is also yet to feature under new boss Tony Popovic. 'I've got a 10-day pre-camp in Abu Dhabi and then, if I get picked, it's another 10 days after that, so no break for me,' said Strain. 'I kept saying after I came back from injury, that all I wanted to do is get back in that international fold again. It's not the final squad but it's just good to just be around the set-up again. 'It's amazing and hopefully I can get into the final squad.' He smiled: 'I will need to speak to the gaffer (Jim Goodwin), and hope he gives me an extra week off! 'I certainly don't want to come back and get injured again. I want to come back and have a full pre-season because I know I can do even better next season.' Strain's Australia recall was swiftly followed by United booking their place in Europe, capping a dream week for the player. While he has endured a challenging maiden campaign at Tannadice – a devastating hamstring tear sidelining him for five months – it has ended on a soaring high. 'I came here with big ambitions,' he added. 'This is a massive club, and I said at the start that I want to get into Europe. 'To have achieved that is amazing. 'I left St Mirren before the European tour with them, so to do it with United is great. 'I just can't wait now.' Touching on the work done at United by boss Jim Goodwin, who has guided the club back from the doldrums of the Championship to continental competition, Strain continued: 'Since I have come back from injury, 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 because I know he's been working really hard to bring success to this club and fans. 'He was getting a fair bit of stick from the Aberdeen fans last weekend so it was quite nice that he got the last laugh. He was up there as manager and obviously they don't like him – but he's here now, and he's loved.'
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.'
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Louisiana officials lament loss of USDA money to help schools, food banks buy from local farmers
Lance Cheung/USDA photo Louisiana lawmakers are asking Congress to bring back a $1 billion federal program that allows schools, child care programs, and food banks to purchase locally grown produce and protein. The Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program and Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, both administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, were axed in March as part of the Trump administration's move to reduce federal government spending. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain said some small and mid-sized farms had already started planting and planning for their crops to be bought by schools or food banks through the defunded initiatives. '[If they are lost], it would be detrimental for the schools, it would be detrimental for those small farmers because they really rely on this,' Strain said. Louisiana will lose out on more than $18 million from the food-buying programs over the next three years, according to federal data. State Sen. Patrick McMath, R-Covington, authored Senate Concurrent Resolution 20 to urge Congress to put the funding back, specifically for schools. McMath is championing bills focused on the Make America Healthy Again movement to banish ultra-processed foods from school lunches. He said he believes local purchasing programs can help get healthier food options on children's lunch trays. In a state Senate Agriculture Committee hearing Wednesday, Strain mentioned examples of Louisiana businesses taking a hit from the federal program cuts. Harris Cattle Co., a Ville Platte business, sells $380,000 worth of meat to nine school districts. Another farm sold $7,000 worth of okra to area schools, the agriculture commissioner said. 'Instead of using processed foods, we want food from scratch. We want fresh okra, we want fresh broccoli, we want fresh corn on the cob. That is what we are looking for,' Strain said. Strain said he has been in direct contacted with members of Louisiana's congressional delegation to make them aware of the impacts from the USDA spending reductions. U.S. Rep. Julie Letlow , R-Louisiana, sits on a House Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture that met Wednesday to discuss the proposed federal budget. More information about the reorganization of the USDA is anticipated to be released in the coming weeks, which could mean a chance for the funding to return in some capacity, Strain said. The Local Food for Schools Program began in 2022 as part of the Inflation Reduction Act passed by the Biden Administration. A USDA spokesperson told Politico the programs 'no longer effectuate the goals of the agency.' Local Food Purchase Assistance agreements in place prior to 2025 renewals were set to take effect, will remain in place for the remainder of their agreed-upon terms, according to the USDA. McMath's resolution does not specifically ask for food bank funding to be returned, but Feeding Louisiana executive director Pat Van Burkleo said he'll work with a legislator next week to make that request. The latest USDA cuts come at a very inopportune time, as the Trump administration is also slashing the Emergency Food Assistance Program. 'We can't make up what the federal government cuts for food banks. We can ask for help, but it doesn't make it up,' Van Burkleo said Feeding Louisiana represents the state's five regional food banks, which cover all 64 parishes. The group is spreading a petition to gain the attention of Gov. Jeff Landry to get his support for calling on Congress to restore the funding. Their goal is 500 signatures by next week. As of Wednesday, the count was already over 260. Van Burkleo said losing this funding not only harms schools trying to serve healthy foods, but also small farmers who often work multiple jobs without avenues to sell their produce on a greater scale. 'It is a great program designed to help the small, underserved minority farmers in rural communities. They have never had this opportunity to get this kind of dollars,' Van Burkleo said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
