Ray McKinnon delighted by Dundee United kids’ attitude

Ray McKinnon will use a much more experienced line-up when Dundee United head for Brechin in the Forfarshire Cup on Saturday.

But so long as they show the same sort of commitment as at Forfar on Tuesday, the Tangerines boss will continue to give his kids their chance at top-team level.

Ray was delighted with the way they kept going right to the end to earn a deserved draw in the Station Park friendly.

And he knows that kind of attitude can be a big asset in the coming season.

“I was delighted with them all because they are young boys but they didn’t let their heads go down when they weren’t getting what they deserved at Forfar.”

Teenage winger Justin Johnson caught the eye with a sparkling second-half display that saw him score the late equaliser and set up a string of chances.

His gaffer was encouraged by that and also liked what he saw from young left-back Jamie Robson.

“We’d worked in training on getting the ball wide, getting overlapping full-backs.

“Early on Johnson was coming inside but once I told him to run at their full-backs and use ours there was a big difference.

“He was excellent and gave us a real spark and drive. He does have something to offer and I liked the way Jamie bombed on.

“At times his final ball could be better but we can work on things like that. Working on attitude is the difficult part but that’s not a worry with him — he’s willing to run all day.”

Missing at the weekend will be new signing Lewis Toshney after he broke his nose against Cove Rangers last weekend.

He has to have the break reset and doctors have warned he could be out for up to six weeks.

However, his manager, believes he’ll be back much sooner.

“Toshney has already been training on his own and he wants to be back with the squad next week.

“He’s that type and his attitude is if he takes another bang on it, so be it, and he’s keen to be working.

“He’s telling me he’ll be back quickly and I don’t doubt it.