Centre-Back attack

Denis Smith has claimed that he will almost certainly be signing a new centre-back tomorrow, and it will be neither Steve Davis nor Mark Watson. According to Smith a player on whom he has been keeping his eye for some time has now become available and he intends to sign him. Where this leaves Davis, who has not signed for Macclesfield in the expectation of playing for United, or Watson, who wants to play for Oxford but not at the expense of his international career, is uncertain. Smith has said that he's willing to talk to Watson, but in person and not through his agent. One wonders whether the United manager's position would be so intractable were Watson an England international, but that's merely supposition…

Meanwhile Anders Jacobsen, who had an impressive trial with United pre-season, has been signed by Notts County, who beat Aberdeen to his signature.