Dundee United manager Peter Houston has warned a ”wounded animal” will be on the loose at Tannadice this weekend.
The Tangerines boss used that analogy to describe Rangers, with the Ibrox club suffering indignity after indignity off the park as well as struggling on it.
Houston, while not wishing to get into the nitty-gritty of the turmoil his opposite number Ally McCoist and his players are going through, has been following events and believes Rangers will be an extremely dangerous proposition for his team in Saturday’s early kick-off.
”Rangers are like a wounded animal,” he said. ”I would say they are at their most dangerous when they are wounded. Their release will be going out on to the park and doing what they do best in spite of everything else that is going on.
”I know they have players like Carlos Bocanegra and Dorin Goian out and have others missing too but what we have been doing in our dressing room is speaking about the kind of Rangers team we could still face.
”At the end of the day, they still have a right good team to put out on to the park. You have the likes of Lee Wallace and Sasa Papac who can play on the left, Steve Davis and Maurice Edu in the middle and then Lee McCulloch up front.
”So we can’t afford to down by even 10% on the day. We have to make sure that we are at it right from kick-off.”
United midfielder Danny Swanson could be involved at some stage. His season has been spoiled by injury but Houston offered some hope of seeing him face Rangers.
”Danny will probably be added to the squad but whether he plays or not we will decide nearer the time,” he said. ”He won’t start because he is not quite there yet but it is a boost to have him back.
”He needs to get back playing again because his contract is up at the end of the season. So he has to fight and try to get a new contract, whether it be here or anywhere else.
”He has not had a lot of football over the last year or so and he needs a break. The wee man has been very unfortunate with injuries but there is no doubt he is a quality player.
”He is a good type of player to bring on in games when you need something to change games.
”He has been down about it which is understandable but he just needs a run at it. Right now he is bubbly so it will be nice to have him back in the squad.”
Houston is still pondering how to replace suspended right-back Robbie Neilson.
He added: ”I have a decision to make on who will come in for Robbie. I have Keith Watson or Garry Kenneth, who could come back in, or I could move Sean Dillon across from central defence.”
Gavin Gunning should be fine despite suffering a back spasm against Celtic in last Sunday’s Scottish Cup defeat.
Photo by David Davies/PA Wire