Dundee United are facing an injury crisis as they bid to reach the semi-finals of the Betfred Cup at Cappielow.
Captain Willo Flood will be out for two to three weeks after damaging his thigh during Saturday’s 3-1 league defeat at Falkirk; Tony Andreu got a bang on already fragile ribs against the Bairns and has been sent for an X-ray; Charlie Telfer suffered an ankle injury but played on; and Lewis Toshney had to come off after finally succumbing to a virus.
Flood is definitely out of tonight’s cup quarter-final against Morton, while the other three are also expected to be sidelined.
That opens the door to the likes of Blair Spittal and Scott Fraser, while there was some good news with Stewart Murdoch likely to be back after his calf problem.
That’s where the glad tidings end, however.
Manager Ray McKinnon is therefore right up against it but he is refusing to let his selection struggles get him down ahead of such an important match.
“It is not ideal and it was just one thing after another at Falkirk,” admitted the United boss.
“You get these blows and you just need to take them and get on with it.
“Lewis was ill before the game with a viral infection. We took a gamble by playing him at Falkirk and it backfired.
“He was miles away from fitness but he’s like that. He just wants to play in every game.
“At half-time, we knew he wasn’t right. He was really off the pace in the first half.
“Willo pulled this thigh and Tony injured his ribs in training earlier in the week.
“He was toiling going into the game and then he took a knock on them during the game.
“He was in agony and is having an X-ray on his ribs.
“Charlie then did his ankle and we were stretched at that point.
“We were effectively playing with 10 men by that time because Charlie’s ankle had gone.
“Ideally, we should have taken him off but we strapped him up again.”
Even given the lengthy casualty list, McKinnon offered up no excuses for the Falkirk loss and is looking for better tonight from his players.
He said: “I was sick to lose the two goals at the end and we should have done better when we were on top earlier in the game.”
Asked about the failure to cut out the cross balls that led to the opposition’s goals, he added: “We’re working on that.
“It was disappointing because it was easy crosses that came into the box.
“The first one was a free header (from John Baird), the second one was a freak own goal, and then big Lee Miller, who is very good in the air, scored a great header.
“We know we need to improve on that.
“Having watched the game back, I didn’t think we played all that poorly, even though I gave the boys a bit of stick in the second half.”
McKinnon promised the supporters that things will improve as the season goes on, although he hinted at the need to boost his squad further by adding another striker.
He said: “We’ve had so many problems this season up until now but it will get better.
“We see all the positives coming, although we probably need one more player.
“We are getting there.
“We trained on Sunday and you could see right away that boys like William Edjenguele and Nick van der Velden were distraught.
“They are good professionals and they are winners.
“We had a good chat on Sunday and you could see the players were frustrated at not winning the Falkirk game because we had so many chances in the first half.
“But you get wee set-backs throughout the season.
“We’ve lost two games in the league but so have Hibs. That’s the reality.
“We have drawn more than we should but everyone knows what we need.”
That referenced a wish to boost his frontline and with finances tight progress in the cup just might help free up some cash as well as earn the prestige that comes with being in the last four.
McKinnon said: “For us, it’s massive to get a cup run.
“It’s great for team spirit and to bring everyone together.
“It’s brilliant for the fans and the club.
“I want to get to Hampden and, you never know, if you can get through this tie you are only one game away from the final.”
