Jim Goodwin bemoans Dundee United injury list but relishes Rapid challenge

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin admits he’s never had to deal with so many injuries so early in the season – but believes the team can have a night to remember against Rapid Vienna.

Goodwin is preparing his players for the second leg of their Conference League qualifier at Tannadice, a week after a memorable performance earned a 2-2 draw in the Austrian capital.

Goals from Zac Sapsford and Max Watters gave United parity in the tie going into the decisive match, and set up what Goodwin says is a “huge” and “a great occasion”.

The manager has called for full commitment from his players, and says excitement and adrenaline will spur the team on in front of a full house.

However, Goodwin still has a number of injury issues to contend with and says that seriously depletes the strength of squad available.

Ross Graham, Kristijan Trapanovski and Ryan Strain remain sidelined with hamstring issues, Dario Naamo will be absent and Goodwin revealed Isaac Pappoe will be out for a considerable length of time after sustaining a knee injury.

“Unfortunately, the news isn’t great [on Isaac Papoe],” he said.

“As we first feared after the game, he has suffered some ligament damage in and around the knee, and they’re still ongoing discussions with regards to how best to rehab that type of injury.

“But Isaac is going to be out for a lengthy period of time.”

Goodwin admits the overall injury situation is a new challenge and one that could yet see him dip into the transfer market again.

“It is a real challenge,” he said. “I’ve never had to face this type of situation this early on in the campaign.

“Most managers and coaches accept the fact that there’s going to be injuries throughout the course of the season and you’ll have to go without one or two key players.

“But I think the stage that we’re at, where like the game on Sunday, we’re missing seven or eight influential players who arguably could be int he starting XI against Hearts, which could obviously make us stronger and give us more options within ghrt squad.

“I don’t mean that to be disrespectful to any of the younger lads that we’ve promoted from the academy, they’ve done terrific since stepping in, but missing seven or eight of your players like Ross Graham the club captain., Ryan Strain who played nearly every game last year when he came back, we were excited about Dario Naamo and Trapanovski had a good pre-season. Big players.

“It has been difficult and challenging. Nobody likes to hear you talking about it all the time because it looks like you’re trying to make excuses.

“It’s the reality we are dealing with at the moment and we just have to make sure we get the best out of the players available to us.”

Getting the most out of the team will be essential to defeat Rapid and progress to the play-off round of the Conference League but Goodwin says a noisy United support can help.

“It’s massive,” he said when looking forward to the game. “It’s the position that the manager, players and background team want to be in. Big games on a European stage with so much on the line, it’s exciting.

“There won’t be too much need for any motivational speeches before the game because the players know what’s at stake and know the opportunity they have got.

“It should make for a fantastic fixture.

“On the flip side of that, we know that Rapid Vienna are a really good team and still favourites in a lot of people’s eyes, albeit they are the away team.

“We’ve a really good home support and I’m led to believe there’s not a ticket to be had.

“If the fans can get behind the team, create a really positive atmosphere and cheer the players on then it will be a memorable that we look back on in years to come.”