Dundee United boss Ray McKinnon praised his players’ character as they battle to keep in touch with the promotion race in the Championship.
Both physically and in terms of results the Tangerines have taken a few knocks already this season.
Defeats at Dumbarton and Falkirk were blows, while Ray’s hopes of getting his new team to gel quickly have been hit by a string of injuries to key men.
At various times, Willo Flood, Paul Dixon, Stewart Murdoch, Lewis Toshney, Charlie Telfer and Cammy Smith have been forced to miss games.
Now Toshney is out again because of damaged ankle ligaments and United are waiting to hear how long influential keeper Cammy Bell will be missing after he had groin surgery on Tuesday.
Despite those problems, they only trail early pacesetters Queen of the South by six points and were able to earn a draw at promotion favourites Hibs on Sunday.
Ray believes that’s down to the character his men have shown and leaves him optimistic about the months ahead.
“We went into the game on Sunday with a lot of injuries and no recognised midfielders. Then we lost Lewis Toshney, who we’d asked to fill in for that area,” he said.
“We even had Charlie Telfer come off the bench although he was still injured and that’s a credit to him.
“I thought our draw at Easter Road was merited and it shows there is character in the dressing-room.”
Attacker Cammy Smith, meanwhile, may have played his way into the starting line-up for Saturday’s Irn Bru trip to Stranraer.
“Cammy gave us a real spark,” added McKinnon. “He played deeper the week before but he’s not a central midfielder and he is more comfortable playing further forward.”
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