PAV'S ON BOARD

Pav Safranko's two substitute appearances this week for Slovakia against Hungary and Wales saw the fans' favourite become the latest name to adorn the International Honours board at Tannadice.

Not since 2015 has an addition been required on the board and Pav's competitive debut at International level is hopefully the latest of many such honours in the coming months and years.

A lot of resource, time and planning has gone into providing all players who come to Tannadice the opportunity to develop as players and this timely boost demonstrates the value of a range of ongoing improvements around St Andrews and Tannadice.

Sporting Director Tony Asghar said, "Firstly, this is a tremendous and well deserved honour for Pav. He has shown the correct application in almost everything he has done in his time at United, and we like him as a player. He has fitted into the philosophy that Robbie and the coaches are trying to bring. We are keen to develop our players at United and Pav will tell you how the environment here has helped him.

"We are working hard to develop players who will get international recognition, and recently our academy has started to see increased involvement at the international level, and we had Mati Zata with the Zimbabwean Under 23s. The aim is to have more achieve this level of recognition."

Head Coach Robbie Neilson said, "Delighted for him to get game time and he has done well for us this season. It will be a great confidence boost for him and it is great for the Club, and the fans can see the level we can get players. It also shows players who are thinking of coming to Tannadice what we can do for them as players while they are here."

Pav himself was bursting with pride at wearing his country's jersey saying, "It was an unbelievably proud moment, and it has been a dream of mine all my life to play competitive football for my county, and I am so happy."

He continued, "My team-mates and the coaching staff have helped so much, particularly the new striking coach Lee McCulloch who although he has only been here for two or three months, he has helped me more than all other coaches have in twenty years.

"I come back ready and confident for the end of the season, and I do not need to say anything about this Club. Dundee United are a big Club, and I want to help them get promotion."

Pav has scored 11 goals in his 28 starts for United after joining on loan from Danish side Aalborg Boldspilklub in the summer of 2018.