Leveins Choice Proves Successful

Craig Levein proved he is a shrewd manager, when he signed Polish internationalist goalkeeper Grzegorz Szamotulski on a 6-month loan deal.

The 31-year-old keeper had an impressive match against Barcelona last week, proving he is more than a suitable replacement for the injured Lukasz Zaluska.

Lukasz Zaluska broke a bone in his foot during a friendly match against Airdrie a week before the glamour friendly against the Catalan side.

Manager Levein sent out an S.O.S for a temporary replacement for Zalusk, with out-of-contract 6` 2" Szamotulski leaping to United`s rescue.

Szamotulski became a free agent at the end of last season, after coming to the end of his contract with Austrian side Sturm Graz.

"The injury to Lukasz Zaluska has left us short of first team experience in a very important area of the team," admitted Levein on the official website last week.

" We felt it important to try and fix up an early addition to the squad. Grzegorz comes highly recommended and is a player I was aware of before.'

The only way Barcelona could beat the talent Pole, was from the penalty spot - and even then it took Thierry Henry 2 attempts.

Despite his impressive performance against Barca, its unlikely that Szamotulski will remain at Tannadice beyond the end of his 6 month deal, because he`s on the look out for a move to a 'bigger` club.

Levein told tribalfootball, "We have signed him with a view to helping him sell himself to a bigger club."

Szamotulski has previously spent time on the books of PAOK Salonika and Legia Warsaw.

Meanwhile, former 1st choice keeper Derek Stillie has signed for English League 1 side Gillingham on a 1-year deal.

33-year-old Stillie quit full-time football at Tannadice at the end of last season, to continue his legal studies down south.