| Tonight and tomorrow, Tangerine teams will line up at Raith Rovers and Livingston, with the manager looking for better than he got when Casalinuovo’s last-gasp strike earned a draw at Glentoran.
The Argentine promises he’ll get it and stresses no-one at Tannadice has lost sight of the top priority — being 100% ready when the opening SPL game at St Mirren on August 14 comes round.
He said, “I know why the gaffer was not happy on Saturday, because we did not play a good game and he was right to have a go at us.
“It is pre-season, though, and these things happen. Sometimes your sharpness is not good, your precision is off and your passing is short, but we are all working hard.”
So much so, in fact, that, despite that Belfast blip, when asked to sum up the work put in so far during the build-up, Casalinuovo needed just one word — “perfect”.
“The trip to Austria was awesome and the facilities over there were excellent. Individually and for the group it was a chance to put in some hard work,” he added.
“Now games are coming every three or four days and, as players, that is what we need. The games against Raith Rovers and Livingston are perfect because it means almost every player can get 90 minutes over the next two days.
“Then we have more games against good teams from the weekend and they will help us, too. For us, the main thing is that we are ready for St Mirren and the SPL, and I am sure we will be.”
After an encouraging first campaign in Scotland that saw him net nine times in 25 United appearances, he is looking to mount a strong challenge for a regular starting berth at first-team level.
And he’s hoping his weekend effort is the first of many.
“I know it was only a pre-season game, but I was happy to get my first goal of this year. As a striker, you want to be scoring all the time, even in training, so I was happy.
“Even in pre-season you do not want to go one game, then another and then another without scoring, because that hits your confidence.
“I know also that, if I want to be in the team for most games, I will have to score goals. There are many very good strikers at the club and the competition for places in our attack is always strong.”
Casalinuovo is set to be one of those kept back for tomorrow’s Almondvale trip, but tonight’s line-up at Stark’s Park will be laced with first-team men.
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