Goalkeeping Crisis At Dundee United

Dundee United are facing a goalkeeping crisis, after new signing Lukasz Zaluska was ruled out for 6 weeks with a broken foot.

1st choice keeper Derek Stillie quit full-time football at Tannadice at the end of last season, to continue his legal studies in London.

That left Craig Levein with only the inexperienced pairing of 21-year-old Euan McLean and 18-year-old John Gibson.

Euan McLean has already made several 1st team appearances for Dundee United, but his only match between the sticks last season was an embarrassing 5-1 New Years day defeat by Falkirk at Tannadice.

Levein signed the more experienced Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska on a 2-year deal at the end of May, but the 24-year-old managed to injury his foot on Thursday evening.

A scan on Friday morning confirmed the bad news, a broken bone in the foot, which will keep Zaluska out of action for around a month and a half.

It means Zaluska will miss the start of the high profile Barcelona friendly in a few days, as well as start to the SPL campaign next month.

Zaluska admitted he was looking forward to playing against the Catalan giants this Thursday evening, when he first signed for Dundee United at the end of May.

"Dundee United is a club which is well known in Europe and one with a great tradition and the Barcelona match is a very exciting prospect for me," admitted Zaluska when he first joined the club.

2nd choice keeper McLean started against Raith Rovers in a friendly at Stark`s park on Sunday afternoon, but was unable to prevent both Andy Tod and Craig Winter hitting the back of the net in the 2-2 draw.