Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin is focused on avoiding early upsets in the upcoming League Cup group stage as his team begins their campaign this weekend. United will open their tournament run with an away match against Stirling Albion on Saturday. Their group also features Montrose, Arbroath, and The Spartans, presenting a relatively manageable fixture list compared to previous campaigns.

Goodwin acknowledges the history of surprises at this stage of the competition and is intent on ensuring his side is not among those to falter. “Over recent seasons we have seen plenty of upsets along the way,” he said. “We want to make sure we aren’t one of those upsets. We respect all the teams and we have some really tough games.”

The League Cup group stage consists of four matches played in quick succession, a schedule Goodwin describes as challenging, especially in terms of player fitness. Reflecting on last season, when injuries disrupted United’s early progress, he emphasized careful squad management to avoid repeating that scenario. “Four games at this stage of the season is not ideal for any team. We have to manage the team accordingly,” Goodwin explained. “The main thing is to make sure we get the points on the board and do enough to get into the last 16. We also need to make sure we come through it without injuries to give ourselves the best chance of starting the league campaign on a positive note. We picked up far too many injuries in the early stages of last season.”

Among the squad developments, new signing Jesse Randall, who recently featured for New Zealand in the World Cup, is expected to join the team this weekend. Goodwin indicated that Randall would be eased into the squad gradually, citing the player’s need for rest and recovery following a congested summer schedule. “We will gradually build him up and he shouldn’t take too long to get him up to speed. It has been a relatively short break since the World Cup so he should be in good shape,” Goodwin said.

As Dundee United prepare for the opening match, the focus remains on steady progression through the group stage while maintaining player health ahead of the domestic league season.