Robbie Neilson will have virtually a full squad to pick from for his first game in charge of Dundee United.
The new Tangerines gaffer heads for Partick Thistle with only one notable name still absent from his squad.
“They’re all back, Deniz the goalie is the only one that’s injured, the rest are all fit,” he was delighted to report.
“There’s been a full squad, they’ve all trained well.
“Obviously, there’s ones that are not up to speed yet, they’ve had longer injuries or missed pre-season.
“But they’re all starting to work so it bodes well for the future”
Today’s clash was brought forward from the end of the month because both teams made an early exit from the Irn-Bru Cup, the latest ties in which are taking place this weekend.
If it hadn’t been, Robbie would have had an extra week to prepare for his United bow instead of just a few days.
Given the choice, though, he would have still opted for this game now.
“It’s good to get a game on Saturday because it gives you a focus to go to,” he added.
“It will be a big game for us against Partick, it gives us a chance if we can get a win to really move up the table because it is so tight.
“It’s good also for me. When you come in you want a focus on the Saturday and, hopefully, you get a good start.”
And he’s been delighted by the mood in the camp.
“Sometimes when you go in places when it’s been difficult, it’s like a morgue and when you go in everyone is nervous, nobody wants the ball.
“In this place spirits are high.
“There’s a lot of strong characters and good characters. In training they are all good and we need to take that into the game.”
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