United are involved in a flurry of transfer activity. Manager Alex Smith is chasing the signature of a mystery Scot, beleived to be Greg Shields of Charlton and has earmarked upwards of six members of his existing 51-strong squad for an exit from Tannadice. And he admitted yesterday that yet another South American has arrived at Tannadice on trial. "I am looking to make a signing before the weekend and we are in negotiations with a club," revealed Smith. "At the same time I want to create some room within the pool and over the next two or three days I’ll be working on that.

"I am quite clear in my own mind now as to who should move on and there are at least a half-dozen in that category. "If we can sell these players or release them then the chance will be there for me to bring in another one or two that I feel can strengthen us." The closed doors game United played against Hibs on Wednesday allowed a host of fringe men the opportunity to secure a future or otherwise at the club and it was in the wake of that Smith finalised his plans. The match also featured two fresh trialists and one, the South American, showed up sufficiently well to invite further serious consideration. "The player in question is a striker and we’ll take another look at him in the under 21s on Monday," revealed the Tannadice boss.

Smith is set to welcome Craig Easton back from suspension when United tackle Celtic at Parkhead tomorrow but David Hannah is still receiving treatment on a thigh knock. At face value the troubled Tangerines could hardly face a tougher test as they seek to notch their first league win since April for Celtic are unbeaten this season and flying at the top of the SPL. But Smith reckons it could be worse. "In many ways this is a better fixture than were we facing one of the teams slightly above us in the table at home," he claimed. "After the events of the last week I’d rather be going into a game with a big crowd." ©The Courier