The former Sunderland defender was handed the position on a permanent basis in May and is preparing for a first full SPL campaign.The Tannadice club have not played in European competition since being defeated by Trabzonspor in the Uefa Cup qualifying round seven years ago.United were Uefa Cup finalists in 1987 though, losing to Gothenburg in a two-leg final under legendary manager, Jim McLean. "But it was a great performance by the boys in the second half." The Welsh club are at home first on 11 August, with the away leg two weeks later.Dundee United booked their place in Europe by reaching last season's Tennent's Scottish Cup final, where they were beaten by Celtic.The tie against the Finns, whom Liverpool knocked out of the Cup Winners' Cup in 1996, will represent an early test for United's manager Gordon Chisholm, who guided the club to the cup final after replacing Ian McCall, who was sacked in March. Gary Lloyd struck twice, then Thomas added his second before Nathan Cotterall sealed the win 10 minutes from time.Lloyd admits even he was stunned by his side's comeback "I thought the game was all over to be honest," he said. But the FAI Cup holders Longford equalised from the penalty spot through Andrew Myler to restore their two-goal advantage and they looked to be in control of the tie.However, the home side threw caution to the wind after the break and hit the visitors with a four-goal blitz. He decided to stay with the club and play in the Champions' League. He could replace Didier Drogba - whose style he resembles - as the hottest young striker in the French league. Carmarthen Town, who produced the performance of Thursday night to book their place in the second qualifying round of the Uefa Cup, were rewarded yesterday with a tie against FC Copenhagen.

Dundee United have drawn the Finnish side MyPa 47 Trailing 2-0 from the first leg against the Irish club Longford, Carmarthen scored four second-half goals to win 5-1 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate. Carmarthen signalled notice of their intentions when Daniel Thomas opened the scoring. He will be a sure starter at Paris St-Germain - but is the rest of the team up to his quality?Matt Moussilou: LilleMatt Moussilou, 23, scored 12 goals in the league last season - 20 in all - to help Lille to the runners-up place. Will he add to the successful Asian invasion of Europe?Vikash Dhorasoo: Paris St-GermainVikash Dhorasoo, 31, the France international midfielder, has returned from Milan, where he successfully - on and off - challenged bigger names for a place in the starting line-up. Lyon apart, that is what most French clubs still have to be contented with.Houllier's brief holiday is over. He may, nevertheless, find prolonging the glory at the Stade Gerland easier than reviving it at Anfield.Three musketeers: Leading players from clubs looking to deny Lyon another title-winning season in the French leagueAhn Jung-hwan: MetzAhn Jung-hwan, 29, the South Korea striker whose golden goal in the second round knocked Italy out of the 2002 World Cup, has joined Metz from Yokohama F-Marinos in the Japanese league, where he was a prolific scorer.

Both Dhorasoo and Lamouchi are, excellent players but in their early 30s and not likely to change the recent history of either club.The biggest challenges to Lyon will probably come from Didier Deschamp's Monaco, disappointing last year. The 2004 Champions' League finalists have bought the promising midfielder Camel Meriem from Bordeaux and have Olivier Kapo on loan from Juventus.Something old, something borrowed, something new but untried. Bonaventure Kalou, the Auxerre striker, has signed for €8.5m (£5.8m).Marseilles, under Jean Fernandez, have the one-time France striker Sabri Lamouchi on loan from Inter. Laurent Fournier, the new Paris St-German coach, has Vikash Dhorasoo (ex-Lyon), back from Milan. The country's two best-supported, and theoretically "biggest", clubs, Paris St-German and Marseilles have started with a new coach, new players and high hopes. By mid-October both have been in "crisis", with poor results on the field and back-stabbing in the corridors.This season - guess what? - they both start the season with new coaches, new players and high hopes. Little by little, our championship has achieved greater density and greater quality."Attendances were up last year for the third year in succession to a 21,000 average (well behind England, Germany and Spain but comparable to Italy).

The main complaint of the fans, and football writers, was that Lyon dominated from start to finish and that there were too many 0-0 and 1-0 games.Which clubs might spoil Houllier's return but confirm his view that the French league is gaining strength? There has been an almost ritual pattern to the last few seasons. "In recent confrontations - look at Auxerre winning at Arsenal last season - things have balanced up. "We have a tendency to denigrate what is good and sound in this country," he told France Football magazine. New rules will allow clubs to pay part of a player's salary in "image rights" which qualify for tax but not social charges.The success of Lyon and Monaco in the last two years suggested that the French league - such a goldmine of talent for clubs in other countries - may be ready to compete on level terms at last.Houllier believes that the French league is already much better than some commentators - especially French commentators - say. This is less than the Premiership clubs share but substantially more than the TV rights in Italy, Spain and Germany.The other excuse put forward by French clubs for the failure to sign, or keep, their best players will disappear at the end of the season. High taxation and social charges in France make it difficult to pay high net salaries.