Dundee United full-back Ryan Strain believes fans have yet to see his optimal performance, a situation he intends to change in the upcoming season.
Strain, who joined Tannadice last summer, stated that a hamstring injury sustained during pre-season derailed his initial hopes and left him feeling as though he was consistently “playing catch-up” with his teammates.
Strain arrived at Dundee United after establishing himself as a key player at St Mirren and earning international caps for Australia. Despite a call-up for Australia’s World Cup qualifiers this month, he narrowly missed making the final squad for the matches against Japan and Saudi Arabia.
A crucial discussion with manager Jim Goodwin towards the end of last season has reportedly motivated Strain to demonstrate his full capabilities.
Strain explained, “The manager is the one who convinced me to come here.” He added, “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.”
The defender acknowledged tactical adjustments, stating, “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.” He then detailed the significant advice from his manager: “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.”
Strain believes the issue stemmed from “trying too hard.” He admitted, “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.”
Following this realization, Strain has altered his approach. “So I’ve simplified things, just getting past a man then getting the ball into the box,” he said. He noted the positive impact of this change, adding, “I had a few assists [late in the season] so it’s working and I feel good.” Comparing his output, he stated, “I had six assists and four goals in my first season in Scotland, and I think I had three last season.”
Looking ahead, Strain’s primary goal is to establish a strong foundation. “I just want to get a good pre-season, get fitter over the summer and go again,” he concluded.
