Jim Goodwin returns to Dundee United dugout after health scare

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin will be back in the technical area against St Mirren after remotely overseeing three matches from home while recovering from a health issue that required hospitalisation.

Jim Goodwin will return to the Dundee United touchline this weekend after a health scare that saw him direct the team remotely from his laptop. The 44-year-old manager is set to lead his side at St Mirren on Saturday, having been absent from the dugout for the last three fixtures.

Goodwin was kept in hospital overnight after the initial incident but returned home just hours before the Kilmarnock game on August 29. From there, he logged onto the club's broadcast service and was patched into the bench's communication system, making all tactical decisions and substitutions from afar. That match ended in a 4-0 victory, a result that helped lift United to sixth in the Premiership with seven points from six games.

Remote control from home

Assistant Lee Sharp took charge of on-pitch duties during Goodwin's absence, but the manager remained deeply involved. "I was still very much involved in the day-to-day stuff," Goodwin said. "I was back involved with the staff, I watched the games on the laptop and I was in constant communication with the bench." For the subsequent match against Motherwell, Goodwin set up a three-way call using his phone, an earpiece, and his laptop while isolated in a room. That game proved difficult, with United reduced to ten men for 75 minutes and ultimately losing 3-0.

Goodwin was able to attend the following match against Falkirk in person, though he remained in the stands. He was in the dressing room before kick-off, at half-time, and after the final whistle of the 1-1 draw. He expressed disappointment that his team did not secure a win after improving in the final hour. Reflecting on the three-game period, Goodwin noted, "During that time we have had a win, draw and a defeat."

Staff step up during absence

The Irishman was full of praise for his backroom team and players for maintaining focus. He highlighted how staff stepped up over the last few weeks and said the squad did not allow his situation to become a distraction. Goodwin also expressed gratitude for support from the club's office staff at Tannadice, who sent him a card, and for the tifo display from supporters at the Falkirk game.

Now back in full command, Goodwin faces the immediate task of improving United's recent form, which reads LDLWW over their last five league outings. He will be without injured duo Emmanuel Agyei and Mehdi Merghem for the trip to Paisley, a town he knows well, and has doubts over one or two other players. The manager is scheduled for an operation in the next four to six weeks but is fully focused on the football ahead. The team's current standings show they are eleven points behind leaders Celtic, with a goal difference of plus one after scoring seven and conceding six.