Dundee United manager Ray McKinnon is cautiously optimistic that Scott Fraser’s foot problem won’t keep him out of the team.
Fraser limped off with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining of Saturday’s 1-0 win over Brechin at Tannadice and the concern was that he would need a spell on the sidelines.
However, McKinnon feels the injury is not as bad as feared and hopes that Fraser can play through it.
The Tangerines boss said: “Believe it or not, Scott had another X-ray on the foot today because we are continuing to monitor it.
“It is the same foot that he hurt before.
“He just keeps getting these wee niggles but the healing process seems better this time than before.
“Jordan Garden (the former United goalkeeper) had the same thing and it took him about five or six months to be completely free of it.
“Hopefully, Scott will be back in training later this week because it is not as bad as we thought it was.
“He has struggled with it this season but it is showing signs of improvement.
“He has had a screw put in so it takes a bit of time to settle but everything seems to be fine so it’s good news.”
Once this Saturday’s Championship clash with St Mirren in Paisley is over and done with then Fraser will be given time off.
There is an international break in the league as Scotland travel to Lithuania on Friday, September 1 then host Malta at Hampden on Monday the 4th.
Although United have an Irn-Bru Cup tie against Alloa on the Saturday in between those dates, you can expect a few first-team players to be given a few days to recover and recuperate.
Included in that number will be James Keatings, who appeared to have made a miraculous recovery from an ankle ligament injury but is still not 100%.
McKinnon added: “Keats came back too early.
“His ankle is up again like a balloon.
“We are going to pull him out of the group and that’s a shame because he is so keen and desperate to play.
“He has had this nagging injury and we thought he could play through it but I think it’s time to rest him.
“After the St Mirren game, there is bit of a break in the league so we should be able to give him two to three weeks to get properly over it.
“I think when he comes back next time – when he is properly over the injury – he will be flying.
“So he won’t start the game this weekend because he does need a break.”
On the plus side, though, United will have Paul McMullan back from suspension to face the Buddies.
McKinnon added: “I think Paul will give us a real spark on Saturday and it’s good to have him back in the squad.”
The Tannadice gaffer, meanwhile, has had time to reflect upon the narrow win over Brechin City and his assessment isn’t any kinder on his players than it was at full-time.
He said: “We watched it back the other day and I can promise you it was horrific!
“We were so pedestrian it was unreal.
“There had been a few games back-to-back and it was like they all just took their foot off the pedal on Saturday.”
Nevertheless, McKinnon feels some good can come out of that poor performance against City.
He added: “It was a good thing for us because the players, especially the new guys, will realise that you can’t afford do that in this league.
“Everyone wants to beat United at Tannadice – it was the same with Hibs at Easter Road last season – so we got a wee reminder that we need to be at it.
“I didn’t think Brechin were going to beat us but we maybe could have beaten ourselves.
“We did win ugly but I think the three points were all that mattered.
“The boys were gutted afterwards but wee Paul (McMullan) said to me that those may be the points that win us the league.
“Therefore, as bad as it was, I was delighted with the result.”
