Ryan started out at his local side Brechin City Boys Club along with friend and now team mate John Souttar. The young left winger from Laurencekirk came up through the Youth system at Tannadice, and was part of the Under 15s team that won the Aberdeen International Football Festival in 2008. Signing on full-time at Tannadice in June 2011, he was playing regularly at Youth and Under 19 levels before he began creating and scoring regularly for the Under 20s, and was also rewarded with call ups to the National Under 17 and Under 19 Scotland squads, still only at the age of 16.
In the final match of the 2011-12 season, Ryan was given a place on the bench against Motherwell at Fir Park, where he came on late to make his first team debut, and impressed many during the few minutes he was on the pitch. During the summer he was involved with the first team squad in their pre-season matches against Dundee, Everton and Raith Rovers, and came off the bench again in September against Ross County at Tannadice, again earning much praise for his display while still starring regularly for the Under 20s side during this time.
Photo;Gauld during his first season of first team squad
He signed a contract extension along with childhood friend John Souttar in January 2013, and with new manager Jackie McNamara coming in and the first team squad being hit with injuries, Ryan was given a longer spell in line-up, appearing as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Dundee at Tannadice in March, before scoring his first goal for the first team in his first start, in the 1-1 draw with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park. On 16 December 2013, Ryan agreed a contract extension securing his future at the Club until 31 May 2017.
Throughout his career at Dundee United he also managed to get a few international appearances. On 6 November 2013, Gauld was called into the Scotland Under-21 squad for the first time, for the match against Georgia in November 2013. He has also been capped eight times at Under-19 level scoring two goals throughout his run in the 19s squad which he is still able to play for.
I have personally watched Ryan develop throughout his career at United. Watching him go through the 20s before he became a big shot and moved up into the first team on a regular basis.
Photo;Gauld after scoring his first senior goal for the club
On a player view, he shows that he does work hard in training and that really shows on the pitch. During his time playing in the 20s that I saw. It was very clear that he was ready to be involved in the first time because he had shown so much experience and ability to play at a higher level that he was. It was the same with Scotland when he got called up for the 21s squad. He was lucky enough to be playing with 3/4 members of United which made his time away even more comfortable for him. Due to him and Souttar being childhood friends and playing most of their career's together they are able to work together in training and on the park. This really helps Ryan improve because he knows that he can count on knowing how at least one of the defenders play if he is playing a sitting striking role or even in his desired role as a left winger.
However, on a more personal level. I have watched Ryan break into the first team as well. I have been lucky enough to meet him on a few occasions and I have to say he is good at getting photos with supporters. If he manages to keep himself grounded when he moves on to a bigger club and when football becomes all about money then he will go far in the came. As he is a young talent and has got a massive future ahead of him.
I think he is baby Messi because he shows great skill throughout games. This shows that he works hard on tactics to get away from players in training. He is definatly one of the players to look out for along with childhood friend and team mate John Souttar.
Photo;Myself and Gauld
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