Evolution, not revolution. That seems to be the watchword on Tam Courts’ lips. 

When the 39-year-old was unveiled as Micky Mellon’s successor at the start of June, it’s fair to say the reaction from the Dundee United support was somewhat mixed. Mellon’s tenure was solid if unspectacular and there was hope from the Arabs that a forward-thinking coach, with a background in developing promising young players, would fit the bill at Tannadice. 

By all accounts that appears to be what they have in Courts but there remained a few mutinous grumbles from some quarters. Being an internal hire, and with no senior first-team management experience, Courts was – and likely still is – seen by some as a cheap option, an easy and relatively low-risk (financially, at least) appointment by the board. 

Given the new head coach has only had his feet under the desk for less than two months, it’s perhaps no surprise that the change has been incremental. Central defender Charlie Mulgrew has returned to Tayside 15 years on from a loan spell at Tannadice and 33-year-old goalkeeper Trevor Carson has been snapped up on a free transfer from Motherwell, and the pair are the only new additions at United so far this summer. 

Instead, Courts has been looking within the club to flesh out his first team squad. A flawless group stage campaign in the Premier Sports Cup saw United top their group with four wins from four and get the new manager’s reign off to the best possible start, and the number of precocious youngsters that have been given opportunities in recent weeks would suggest that Courts has no bones about placing his faith in youth. 

Lewis Neilson, the 18-year-old full-back, already has three appearances to his name this season. Central defender Kerr Smith was handed his first start against Elgin City at the age of 16. Kieran Freeman (21) and Flynn Duffy (17) have been first picks in each of the wing-back slots while further up the park, the likes of Archie Meekison (19), Finn Robson (18) and Darren Watson (18) have all clambered off the bench at one point or another. 

Logan Chalmers, the 21-year-old forward, recently signed a contract extension and looks set to break into the first team this season, while playmaker Chris Mochrie’s superb performances on loan at Montrose last term have been rewarded with first-team minutes – and a first United goal to boot – during the group stages of the League Cup. Central midfielder Florent Hoti (20), who spent last season on loan at Forfar, also has a couple of appearances under his belt at this early stage of the campaign. 

It is a young, talented squad that is currently on the books at Tannadice and Courts’ appointment would imply that the high heid yins are throwing all of their eggs into a basket marked ‘youth development’. His previous role as head of tactical performance at the Arabs’ academy would suggest it’s a task he’s aptly suited to but the truth of the matter is that the 39-year-old is something of an unknown. 

What is known, however, is that there will be no sweeping changes – at least, not immediately. Courts has told fans that “the key thing is patience” and that he’s largely happy with his squad – albeit, the club are still after a couple of more additions before the transfer window closes in a month. 

Player retention, however, has been key for Courts this summer. Lawrence Shankland appears to be staying put and after narrowly missing the cut for Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for the Euros, the centre-forward has a point to prove this season. Hibernian striker Kevin Nisbet pipped him to a place in Clarke’s 26-man roster but he will have designs on regaining his place in the international fold, and the best way to do that will be to lead by example at Tannadice. 

Perhaps even more important than keeping a hold of Shankland, though, is keeping Benjamin Siegrist committed to the club for another season. The 28-year-old Swiss shot-stopper was one of the Premiership’s best-performing goalkeepers last season, at times singlehandedly rescuing his team from the brink of disaster. There’s still a month to go until Courts can breathe a sigh of relief and relax but if he can keep Siegrist tied to the club, he will do United’s chances of breaking into the top six a world of good. 

This season will be one of consolidation for Dundee United. With so many young players being blooded in the first team, a degree of patience will likely be required from the stands and mistakes will have to be forgiven. But if Courts can improve on Mellon’s ninth-place finish, develop young players and provide a more entertaining spectacle than his predecessor, it won’t be long until he turns the doubters around.