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General Sport - 10 July 2006
Football: Blether with Brown > Touchline
 
Cameron’s tour of duty
Greg Cameron plans to use Dundee United’s tour of Denmark to reassure himself that he is securely ensconced in the first team (writes Ian Roache).
The 18-year-old midfielder finished last season on a high, turning in a Man-of-the-Match display against Motherwell at Fir Park in the Tangerines’ final game.

He was the star man again on Saturday in their opening pre-season fixture against Raith Rovers, laying on two goals in the 4-1 win at Stark’s Park before being replaced by Ross Gardiner in a pre-arranged substitution.

But, despite topping the bill for the Tannadice men, Cameron has yet to be persuaded he has a safe place in manager Craig Brewster’s top squad.

He will now use the games in Scandinavia against Herfolge on Wednesday and Nordsjaelland on Friday to prove to himself and his gaffer he has made it.

“I just really got back involved in the senior side towards the end of the season, so there is no way I am taking anything for granted,” said Cameron, who flew out with the United party to their Farum training base near Copenhagen today.

“There will be no targets set by me other than to stay involved with the first team for as long as possible.

“I made sure I kept myself fit through the holidays because I wanted to pick up from where I left off in May.

“It is hard to say how the new campaign will go for me, but I am enjoying my football just now and excited about what lies ahead in the next few weeks.”

Cameron and United colleague Garry Kenneth have the no small matter of the UEFA U/19 Championship Finals in Poland to look forward to following the Danish trip.

Once club business is taken care of, the pair will fly straight on to eastern Europe to join their Scotland mates for the eight-team tournament, where they face a tough Group B schedule against Portugal, Spain and Turkey.

“It is a total privilege to play for your country, so even though it will be hectic, no way do I see it as anything other than an honour,” added Cameron.

The midfielder showed he is in good shape going into that gruelling spell by laying on United’s opener against Raith on Saturday.

Neat footwork at the edge of the box won him time and space to thread the ball through to Lee Miller, who beat the offside trap to shoot home from close range on 33 minutes.

It was 2-0 just four minutes later and Cameron was the key man again, finding Noel Hunt with a pass and the new recruit from Dunfermline did well to score from the right-hand side of the box.

Raith grabbed a goal back four minutes after the interval when a Paul McManus half-volley beat Tangerines keeper Derek Stillie.

Cameron made way for Gardiner on 68 minutes before United wrapped things up with headers from Miller (73 minutes) and Hunt (79).

United boss Brewster said, “The boys looked like they enjoyed themselves out there. Raith had a couple of chances, but, overall, it was a good workout.”

Rovers boss Gordon Dalziel felt the scoreline flattered the visitors, saying, “I didn’t think we deserved to lose 4-1. If we can eliminate the mistakes, then I will be happy.”

Roy expected to play
Dundee boss Alex Rae is confident Ludovic Roy will be a Dundee player by the time the club travel to Forfar for tomorrow’s pre-season friendly (writes Graeme Finnan).
It was hoped the 28-year-old keeper, who was at Livingston last season, would have signed a contract over the weekend, but red tape has put the deal on hold. However, it’s expected the Frenchman will put pen to paper tomorrow and make his debut against the Loons at Station Park.

Trialists Ruairidh Caulfield, Ross Harris and Kyle Zenoni are all still at the club and there is the prospect of a striker joining them later in the week.

The man in question is Keith Shevlin (24), who hails from Ireland, but has been playing college football in the United States.

Alex is trying to arrange a bounce game for later in the week to give his trialists the opportunity to show what they can do.

Tomorrow night, however, will be his first chance as Dundee boss to select a side and he’ll be utilising all his experienced men.

“We have to start getting the first-team sorted out and that begins tomorrow,” said Alex.

Dee 4 Life held their Open Day at Dens on Saturday and Alex was pleased to see so many fans there.

He said, “It was a decent turnout and the lads in the team all enjoyed meeting the fans and signing autographs.”

Keeper on trial
St Johnstone today welcomed Bolton goalie Chris Howarth on trial (writes James Masson).
The 20-year-old has been recommended to Saints player-boss Owen Coyle and, should he impress, a season-long loan will be arranged.

Although Owen is striving hard to bring fresh faces in, Saints have so far only added defenders Andy Lawrie, from Falkirk, and Allan McManus, from Airdrie United, to their, pool, although former Kilmarnock playmaker Alex Burke is on trial with the club.

Meanwhile, Jason Scotland is expected at McDiarmid Park on Wednesday following his World Cup Finals stint with Trinidad & Tobago.

Saints play their first public pre-season friendly on Saturday when they visit Forfar.

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