NEW Dundee United capture Riku Riski has only just met his Tannadice team-mates but admits he would be stunned to see them go down this season.
The Finnish international was thrown straight into action on Saturday, just a day after agreeing a six-month loan switch from Norwegian giants Rosenborg.
The 26-year-old was handed his debut off the bench as United squeezed into the last 16 of the William Hill Scottish Cup with a narrow 1-0 win over Airdrie.
But after watching Blair Spittal sweep home another sensational free-kick before joining in training for the first time on Monday, Riski insists boss Mixu Paatelainen has more than enough quality at his disposal to see the Ladbrokes Premiership basement boys to safety.
United are 11 points adrift at the bottom and face champions Celtic next.
“Mixu and I talked about several things before I signed, including the situation in the league,” said Riski who has worked with Paatelainen before during his stint as Finland boss. “But the main thing he wanted to emphasise was that the team is getting better all the time.
“The way the team play fits me. It’s the same philosophy he had before from when I knew him with the national team. When he tells me something, I have 100 per cent trust in him.
“Looking at the table didn’t put me off coming here. I saw it as a big challenge. Now having trained with the team I can see that this is a squad that is definitely up for it. I like the quality and I like the players.
“I’m super surprised the team are where they are. I’d never have guessed it had I not been told. But sometimes football is not about the quality of the players. It can come down to confidence and when you have a bad run of results it affects you mentally. Now it is about turning things around, getting the confidence up and the goals in the net. After that results will come.
“From everything I’ve seen so far I’d say this team is good enough to stay up.”
Riski – a forward who can also operate out wide – is set to run out at Tannadice for the first time on Friday when United host champions Celtic.
He said: “It’s a nice game for me to have my first look at Tannadice. But we have many games left and we can’t put too much pressure on one match.”
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