Cambridge United have confirmed that Andy Dallas signed a new one-year contract with the club.
The 21-year-old came through the academy of Scottish Premiership champions Rangers, signing his first professional contract with the club in June 2016. However, he was unable to break into the first team at the Ibrox Stadium, ending up on loan at Stenhousemuir and Greenock Morton in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
Eventually, Dallas left the club in the summer of 2019, signing for Colin Calderwood’s Cambridge United on an undisclosed fee. He scored just twice in 28 appearances in his first season for the U’s, but made just one league appearance under Mark Bonner in last season’s promotion-winning campaign.
Eventually, a loan opportunity came calling with National League side Weymouth, where he managed to score 12 goals in 25 games. Despite links with Notts County and Yeovil Town, the striker opted to accept a new contract at The Abbey, where he will compete with Joe Ironside, Sam Smith and Harvey Knibbs for a place up front.
Dallas said,
“I am delighted to be extending my stay here. It is a great opportunity for me to be a part of the team going into next season in League One. Coming off a positive experience out on loan last year has given me a lot of confidence and I am really pleased that the Club has given me the chance to fight for a place in this team.
“I have learned a lot about myself on and off the pitch which has made me more equipped to kick on this season. I am glad to get it over the line and now I want to get my head down in Pre-Season and look forward to the challenge this season brings for all of us.”
Bonner added,
“Andy finished last season really strongly and gathered vital experience of
senior games at Weymouth, contributing a healthy goal return in the process. Clearly his exposure to
first team match minutes with us last season was extremely limited, and whilst there are no
guarantees this year, his task is to keep developing and try to force his way in to get closer to the
team.“As I have discussed with Andy, it is vital his development continues with game minutes this season,
therefore we will have to monitor that closely over the coming months. He is a hard-working and
resilient young man who is working for an opportunity. These are all qualities we admire and ones
that will give him the best chance of progressing to fulfil his ambitions for the season.”
The club have confirmed that they have an option to extend the deal further, and that Dallas has joined up with the rest of the squad for the U’s Pre-Season Training Camp in South Wales.
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