BBC Scotland’s Tom English answers your questions on Dundee United

BBC Sport Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering your questions.

Chris asked: After United’s good start, do you think they could make top six? Or do you see weaknesses compared to other teams in the league?

Tom answered: Chris, I think places fifth and sixth are wide open. Right now, I’d be going Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hearts and beyond that, I’m really not sure. Killie, St Mirren, Dundee and Dundee United are all in the mix. Maybe Motherwell as well.

United have kept three clean sheets in a row, including the League Cup, and have conceded only one goal in four. Solid foundations so far. You don’t need to score buckets of goals to finish top six in this league if your defence is good. And Jim Goodwin must be delighted with that side of it.

Is squad depth going to prove a challenge in the long run? Maybe, but the fact is they’ve already played three of last season’s top six – albeit one of them in the League Cup – and they’ve won two and drawn the other. Early signs are very good.

Malcolm asked: The signings this year look the best overall of any Premiership club. Would you agree? (Proof will be in the results obviously. Last time I said that United got relegated!)

Tom answered: It’s practically a new team, Malcolm, and Goodwin certainly seems to have signed astutely. As you say, the proof will be in the results over the course of months rather than weeks, but it’s been a really good start. A couple of good Irish boys in there, you can’t go wrong.

I’m surprised at how quickly everybody appears to have bedded in. That’s impressive work from the manager. He’s built a pretty strong starting team in quick order. You could probably do with another option up front but the defence looks resolute and that’s the secret of making the top six. Solidity at the back can get you there.

Karl asked: Hi Tom, I’m quite sad that we are letting our young players leave after bringing them through the academy. It would never have happened in the Jim McLean era, he would playing them. What are your thoughts?

Tom answered: It’s different times, isn’t it? Jim McLean would have had them locked in on long contracts and there wasn’t the movement then that there is now. When you look at the young players that McLean brought through – Wow!

The whole issue of playing young players is a massive thing and we’ve had a few chats about it on the radio.

It’s a multi-layered thing, but the upshot is the number of minutes afforded to young Scots in the Premiership is miniscule. And, sadly, I can’t see it changing unless the SFA put their foot down regarding quotas, which they won’t do.