Jack Ross insists Mathew Cudjoe has an enormous future at Dundee United – regardless of being linked with a Premier League swap.
The Ghanaian teenager solely signed for the Tangerines final season and regardless of taking part in simply handful of video games, it’s been reported that Brighton have him on their radar. Ross didn’t know a lot concerning the 18-year-old attacker earlier than he arrived at Tannadice in the summertime however has been impressed with the early impression he has made throughout pre-season.
Cudjoe, himself, has already set himself large targets and confirmed final season he would like to finally assist Ghana to be African champions and to play within the Champions League. United boss Ross mentioned: “Matthew is a younger participant who has impressed us. I knew a bit about him earlier than coming right here by way of my information of gamers and likewise chatting with Liam Fox.
“Matthew has had a very robust pre-season, he’s taken his probabilities once they got here alongside. He has completed very well within the video games he’s performed since I got here in.”
Ross admitted the younger African is a match winner and is aware of he must hold working exhausting. He admitted: “Matthew has the power to eradicate individuals, he takes individuals on and desires to attain targets so I've been delighted with him.
“All you are able to do as an 18-year-old is take your alternative when it comes alongside and he’s completed that. He’s with us, he educated this morning with us and is embracing the chance he’s had with us. So I don’t know the place it got here from as a result of he’s very a lot a part of our squad.”
Ross will take his aggressive bow as United supervisor when he leads his aspect out at Rugby Park on Saturday. It may see him give debuts to his new summer time signings Mark Birighitti, Steven Fletcher and Craig Sibbald.
United have additionally introduced the signing of Australian worldwide defender Aziz Bechich however he's unlikely to have his paperwork in place in time for Saturday. Ross is aware of Kilmarnock might be very a lot up for it below a supervisor, in Derek McInnes, who has taken them again to the Premiership.
The 46-year-old is an enormous fan of McInnes and confirmed he has been an enormous affect on him since he stepped into the dugout at Alloa Athletic. Ross warned: “Kilmarnock might be a tricky opening recreation. I've spoken usually sufficient about my admiration for Derek as a result of he’s been actually good to me since I began out in administration at Alloa. He's somebody that I've the utmost respect for and somebody who I nonetheless converse with frequently.”
McInnes had eight years at Aberdeen the place the Pittodrie membership have been frequently in European competitors. The Dons missed out this season for the primary time and he thinks solely now individuals are realising the job that McInnes did in his time at Pittodrie.
Ross claimed: “Individuals are understanding now absolutely how good a job he did at Aberdeen for such a very long time. He confirmed what a superb supervisor he's by bringing Kilmarnock up on the first time of asking as effectively.
"Being again within the Premiership is big for them and which means this weekend might be an enormous event. It’s going to be a problem but it surely’s a superb problem to have. Each recreation within the Premiership is troublesome so this one gained’t be any completely different.”
United make their Europa Convention League bow subsequent week the place they may tackle the winners of the tie between AZ Alkmaar and Tuzla Metropolis. Ross has made it clear that each one his focus is on Kilmarnock somewhat than every other video games additional down the road.