Why Dundee United are signing A-League talent

Dundee United have signed Australian defender Joshua Rawlins for next season - their third recruit from the A-League already.

The 22-year-old right wing-back, who can also play centre-back, has signed a two-year deal, with United holding an option of another year, with his contract at Melbourne Victory due to expire.

Rawlins made 46 appearances for the club after returning to Australia following a two-year stint in Utrecht's academy and helped them to this year's A-League final.

He joins his compatriot Lachlan Rose and New Zealand international Jesse Randall in making the move to Tannadice from the A-League this summer.

They will add to a growing contingent of players from Australia and New Zealand making a mark in Scotland.

Why A-League is an attractive market

There are 16 players from Australia and two who represent New Zealand playing in Scotland, many of whom have made a big impact.

United signed striker Zac Sapsford from Western Sydney last summer and he has had a good first season, scoring 10 times in 42 games so far.

Hearts midfielder Cammy Devlin has been in Scotland for nearly five years and has turned into one of the best players in the country.

While Motherwell midfielder Elijah Just was nominated for PFA Scotland Player of the Year in his debut campaign at Fir Park, having played in Austria and Denmark after his move from his native New Zealand.

Like every transfer in football, there are no guarantees. Sapsford's former team-mate at Western Sydney, Aberdeen winger Nicolas Milanovic, has struggled to make an impact despite being named A-League player of the year last term.

But after United announced the signings of Rose and Randall, manager Jim Goodwin explained why Australia is an attractive marker for the club.

"The A-League is broadcast live now in the UK at the weekends and I watch a lot of the football on Saturday and Sunday mornings and the standard is really good," he said.

"Over the last 10 years there has been a significant investment in the A-League and the quality of player that is available over there fits within our financial structure.

"The Australian players I have worked with in the past have all been really strong characters, very professional. There are a number of Australian players in the Scottish Premiership at the moment that are currently performing very well.

"And those players from Australia, New Zealand, they want the opportunity to come to Europe to raise their profile and to see where it takes them."

Australia international Jackson Irvine made his breakthrough at Ross County and then Hibernian before moving on to captain Bundesliga club St Pauli - an example of the platform Scottish football can provide to players from the southern hemisphere.