| The former Scotland Under-21 captain has fallen out of sight at Tannadice over the past couple of seasons, but, as he flew out with the rest of the squad today, insisted he still he has a future with United.
And the four-day stay in the Dublin area marks a quick return to the Emerald Isle for Cameron, who only last month ended a successful loan spell with Shamrock Rovers.
That’s left him with an edge when it comes to match fitness and he is determined to make the most of the opportunity the manager has told him he’ll get.
“I’m delighted to be back with United and it’s nice to be coming to Ireland. I’m focused on pushing for a place,” said the 21-year-old.
“I spoke to the manager when my loan ended. He told me that, if I wanted to come back and try to force my way in, he’d be happy for that.
“He says if I impress and do well, then he’ll select me, so it couldn’t be fairer than that.
“I’m hoping to use the Ireland trip to catch his eye because it has been too long since I last played for Dundee United.”
The last two campaigns have seen him manage just three top-team appearances in Tangerine, but, with a game against Drogheda tonight to be followed by clashes with UCD tomorrow and Kildare on Thursday, he knows he will get the opportunities he wants here in Ireland.
And the experience of his 13-game stint with Rovers, managed by ex-United man Michael O’Neill, tells him it is going to be a testing few days.
“I played against Drogheda and Kildare when I was here, so I know what to expect from them.
“Drogheda are a very dogged side. They’re physically strong and like to play the ball from back to front.
“One thing’s for sure, they will get in our faces and the Irish lads would love to take a Scottish scalp, so they’ll be up for it.
“I also came up against Kildare in a cup-tie. We won 3-0 and it was a pretty one-sided game, but, like Drogheda, they were very physical.”
That and the fact they will be playing teams who are in the middle of their domestic season is why United have returned here for the second year running.
And Cameron has warned his team-mates they will not have things easy.
“The manager wants us to play these kind of teams because they’ll all be very fit and it will be a big test,” he added.
“I’d say the standard of the teams will be about First Division level, so they’re no mugs.
“There are three or four teams in Ireland who could go into Division One and be successful, the rest are maybe mid-table to lower end of that league.”
Cameron’s desperation to re-ignite his United career has seen him pass up on the chance to face Real Madrid, complete with Cristiano Ronaldo, when Shamrock Rovers face the super-rich Spaniards tonight. |
