Going into this campaign, most Arabs would have had Ryan Strain nailed down as Gorgeous Jim’s first-choice pick at right wing-back. But football rarely follows the script.
After picking up an injury and watching Luca Stephenson return to Tannadice on loan, the Australian international hasn’t featured in a single league minute this season. Suddenly, Strain finds himself on the outside looking in.
The question now is simple: can he win his spot back?
We put the question to our readers — “Who is the best right-back at Tannadice?” — and here’s how you voted:
It’s a clear message from the United support: Stephenson is the man in possession, and most fans think he deserves to keep it that way.
When Gorgeous Jim brought Ryan Strain over from St Mirren in June 2024, it looked like a perfect fit. Pacey, direct, and with a strong engine, Strain was a regular starter throughout the 2024/25 campaign whenever he was fit.
To measure his impact, we turn to the plus/minus goals per 90 minutes ratio — a simple stat that shows how well the team performs when a specific player is on the pitch. It’s calculated by taking the number of goals Dundee United score per 90 minutes (Goals For) and subtracting the goals they concede per 90 minutes (Goals Against).
A positive number means United outscore opponents when that player features.
A negative number means they concede more than they score.
Unfortunately for Strain, the numbers don’t tell a happy story.
When he was on the park during the 2024/25 season, United actually conceded 10 more goals than they scored, giving him a plus/minus ratio of –0.47. In other words, United were worse off when he played — a harsh but undeniable statistical truth.
By contrast, Luca Stephenson’s current figures paint a far brighter picture. His plus/minus ratio sits at +0.41 for the 2025/26 season — a clear sign that United perform better with him at wing-back.
It’s easy to see why. The Liverpool loanee has already chipped in with 2 goals and 1 assist in just five matches, and his energy up and down the flank has become a key part of United’s attacking rhythm.
While Strain may have the edge in raw pace, Stephenson’s blend of work rate, defensive intelligence, and final-third productivity has made him a vital piece of Gorgeous Jim’s system.
Then there’s Dario Naamo — the young Finn who initially arrived on loan before earning a permanent move following a string of standout performances in pre-season and Europe.
His opportunities this year have been limited by injury and Stephenson’s consistency, but his career stats remain impressive. His overall plus/minus ratio, drawn from his time in the Veikkausliiga (Finland’s top flight), is actually stronger than both Strain and Stephenson’s.
That said, the Finnish league isn’t considered as competitive as the Scottish Premiership, so those numbers come with an asterisk. Still, Naamo remains a capable and promising option should Gorgeous Jim need to rotate.
At this stage, Strain’s path back into the starting XI looks difficult. The midfield depth — Camara, Sevelj, Sibbald, Eskesen — means Stephenson is likely to stay wide, leaving little room for change.
If Stephenson were to pick up an injury, Gorgeous Jim might be more inclined to give Naamo another run rather than revert to Strain straight away.
For now, it looks like it could be a long, cold winter for Ryan Strain — and a battle to prove he still has a place in United’s best XI.