Timothy van der Meulen is being backed to put his Tynecastle troubles behind him when Dundee United face St Johnstone tonight.
“Craig Conway is fit after missing the Hearts match and both Morgaro Gomis and Danny Swanson were substitutes on Saturday, with Danny coming on later on,” said Houston.
“All three are ready to start if that is what we decide to do. Jon had his operation and the surgeon says it went well so he came in on Monday to do some exercises.
“We will be patient with him and won’t be rushing him, but knowing the kind of boy he is he will be pushing himself.”
United had Saints watched as they lost 2-0 to Inverness Caley Thistle in the Highlands at the weekend and Houston has a heap of respect for Perth boss Derek McInnes and his players.
“I had (coach) Stevie Campbell up at their game on Saturday and while they did not play at their best in the first half, I heard they were good in the second,” said Houston.
“They are a team that I like. The young lad Stevie May has come in and been doing really well, they have big Michael Duberry in defence, while in midfield they have great experience in Jody Morris with a very good player like Murray Davidson beside him.
“It is going to be a hard test for us but I was delighted with the way we played against Hearts, and if we can maintain that level of performance we won’t be far away.”
Houston will wait until he sees the weather conditions and the state of the pitch before deciding on his selection and formation.
“The pitch is obviously a concern but we have had the same issues as St Johnstone have had this season and it’s nobody’s fault,” he added. “I have not picked the team yet and will wait until we see the conditions before we pick the players best suited to deal with them.”
The young Dutch defender was thrown in at one of the deepest ends in Scottish football when he came on to replace the injured Garry Kenneth at the home of Hearts on Saturday.
Despite good general play, Van der Meulen could have done better at both goals scored by the Jam Tarts as the Tangerines lost 2-1.
However, the 20-year-old has won over his new colleagues since joining from Ajax and midfielder Scott Robertson, who ended up skippering the side on Saturday, believes he will perform well at the heart of the backline alongside Sean Dillon at McDiarmid Park.
“Timothy was involved with both the goals but apart from that I thought he did really well,” said Robertson. “He was aggressive, won his headers and was good on the ball.
“The manager has had a word with him about what it is going to be like playing in Scotland and I am sure he will pick it up quickly.
“There is only one way to learn and that is by playing. He is young and enthusiastic so he is keen to do well. He will have learned loads from playing at Tynecastle and will take that into the St Johnstone game.
“Also, he has done really well in training, the lads have all been impressed by him, and despite what happened against Hearts there is no doubt he will go on to be a good player for the club.”
It is a medial ligament strain in his knee that has ruled Kenneth out for at least three weeks, but Robertson insisted the players are not letting the catalogue of casualties get them down.
“We have not been getting the breaks this season,” said Robertson. “I don’t think we have had a single week when we have had everyone available.
“The injury list has been horrendous and it means everyone is going to have to dig in. Garry Kenneth will be out for three weeks but in that time he will miss a lot of games.
“But other teams are the same and we won’t moan about it. As far as we are concerned, we have a chance to go up the league if we can string some wins together.”
United and Saints have both seen their playing surfaces savaged by the weather and the McDiarmid pitch will provide a stiff test.
“I have not seen the pitch myself but have heard bad things about it,” said Robertson. “But we will just have to cope with it because it is the same for both teams.”
Tannadice boss Peter Houston has not had his selection problems to seek but he will have three comeback stars Craig Conway, Morgaro Gomis and Danny Swanson available to start against Saints.
Striker Jon Daly also came through his hernia operation last week and has begun his rehabilitation.
Continued…
The young Dutch defender was thrown in at one of the deepest ends in Scottish football when he came on to replace the injured Garry Kenneth at the home of Hearts on Saturday.
Despite good general play, Van der Meulen could have done better at both goals scored by the Jam Tarts as the Tangerines lost 2-1.
However, the 20-year-old has won over his new colleagues since joining from Ajax and midfielder Scott Robertson, who ended up skippering the side on Saturday, believes he will perform well at the heart of the backline alongside Sean Dillon at McDiarmid Park.
“Timothy was involved with both the goals but apart from that I thought he did really well,” said Robertson. “He was aggressive, won his headers and was good on the ball.
“The manager has had a word with him about what it is going to be like playing in Scotland and I am sure he will pick it up quickly.
“There is only one way to learn and that is by playing. He is young and enthusiastic so he is keen to do well. He will have learned loads from playing at Tynecastle and will take that into the St Johnstone game.
“Also, he has done really well in training, the lads have all been impressed by him, and despite what happened against Hearts there is no doubt he will go on to be a good player for the club.”
It is a medial ligament strain in his knee that has ruled Kenneth out for at least three weeks, but Robertson insisted the players are not letting the catalogue of casualties get them down.
“We have not been getting the breaks this season,” said Robertson. “I don’t think we have had a single week when we have had everyone available.
“The injury list has been horrendous and it means everyone is going to have to dig in. Garry Kenneth will be out for three weeks but in that time he will miss a lot of games.
“But other teams are the same and we won’t moan about it. As far as we are concerned, we have a chance to go up the league if we can string some wins together.”
United and Saints have both seen their playing surfaces savaged by the weather and the McDiarmid pitch will provide a stiff test.
“I have not seen the pitch myself but have heard bad things about it,” said Robertson. “But we will just have to cope with it because it is the same for both teams.”
Tannadice boss Peter Houston has not had his selection problems to seek but he will have three comeback stars Craig Conway, Morgaro Gomis and Danny Swanson available to start against Saints.
Striker Jon Daly also came through his hernia operation last week and has begun his rehabilitation.
Continued…