Robbie Neilson is poised to make a dramatic debut for Dundee United against his former club Hearts.
The 31-year-old full-back is signing for the Tangerines today and will then be considered by manager Peter Houston for the Tannadice clash against the Jam Tarts on Saturday.
Neilson, who made just under 250 appearances for the Tynecastle team, is looking to restart his career in the SPL after leaving Leicester City, where he spent two seasons finished off by a loan spell at Brentford.
And the former Scotland international looks likely to get an opportunity to begin his United career with a bang.
”We have agreed terms with Robbie and he will be signing until the end of the season,” said Houston. ”The deal is with a view that, if he came in and did well as I expect to be the case I would be looking to keep him on for next season.
”Robbie is also a good player and I know for sure what we are going to get from him. He brings great experience with him and is a terrific professional. He can cover a number of positions in defence.
”He has been playing some bounce games with Burton Albion because he still has a house down in the Leicester area and has always been the type to look after himself.
”So I have no worries about him and he is fit enough to play right away no doubt about it.”
The manager added: ”We are short of bodies in defence and I have to think about things like Gavin Gunning or Garry Kenneth possibly getting injured. Also, Sean Dillon has been out for nine weeks so it would be difficult to pitch him back in right away.
”So, although I haven’t picked my team yet, I will say Robbie will certainly be in the squad for Saturday’s game against Hearts.”
Houston feels he has found someone with real desire to do well.
”He wants to get back playing and is desperate to come back up the road,” he said. ”He had offers from clubs in England such as Plymouth but wanted to come to United and we are delighted about that.
“I actually tried to sign him at the start of the season, so it is great we got him eventually.”
Houston knows what to expect from Neilson, the pair going back to the days when the Tannadice boss was youth coach at Tynecastle.
”Robbie served Hearts exceptionally well and he is one I had as youth coach,” said Houston. ”He is from my neck of the woods Baillieston and I used to drive him through from Glasgow to Edinburgh every day for training.
”Robbie won’t be spectacular as such but he is solid so will go in and do a job as opposed to produce silky football. He is a big, dogged guy and I would like to think the United fans will take to him.”
Neilson will wear tangerine for the first time in a bounce game against Falkirk on Wednesday, priming him to face Hearts.
”We will probably give Robbie 45 minutes in that one along with the likes of Barry Douglas and Lauri Dalla Valle,” added Houston.
Meanwhile, United are awaiting results of a scan to find out the extent of goalkeeper Filip Mentel’s knee injury. The Slovakian shot-stopper injured himself while playing on loan for Clyde.
Houston, who has young goalie Marc McCallum away with the Scotland under-21s in Holland, said: ”Filip might have injured his knee playing for Clyde but we will have to wait and see. We are waiting on the results.”