Three Dundee United players who contributed to the club’s successful Scottish Cup campaign have been denied winners’ medals by the SFA.
Darren Dods, Paul Dixon and Damian Casalinuovo may not have featured on the big day but they did play significant roles in the campaign to get to Hampden.
Casalinuovo scored the goal albeit a controversial handball effort that set United on the road to glory, netting the opener against Partick Thistle on January 9.
Dixon also featured against Thistle and started the semi-final against Raith Rovers on April 11 before limping off injured.
The hardest done by would appear to be Dods, who was at the heart of the Tangerines’ defence against St Johnstone in the last 16, the first quarter-final against Rangers and the replay, as well as the semi against Rovers.
Injury robbed Dods and Dixon of their chance against Ross County, while Casalinuovo was fit but did not make manager Peter Houston’s final squad.
Tannadice chairman Stephen Thompson, in recognition of the part played by Dods, Dixon and Casalinuovo in bringing silverware to the club, contacted the SFA to ask if they could obtain medals for the trio.
However, the governing body refused his request and the three men will stay empty-handed.
Thompson said, “I don’t really know why that is but those are their rules.
“We were willing to pay for them but apparently you can’t even do that.”
He added, “It is a shame for the players involved because the likes of Paul, Damian and Darren played a big part in getting the team to Hampden.”Fitness boostDixon has given United a boost by stepping up his training regime.
The former Dundee full-back has had a broken foot but started running over the weekend and expects to be fully fit for the start of pre-season.
Dixon said, “I went out for a run over the weekend and although it was a bit sore I expected that.
“I could probably kick a ball again soon but there is no point taking risks.”
He added, “I have had six weeks of doing nothing so I will need to build up my fitness again but I will be there and ready to go when pre-season starts.”
Meanwhile, United defender Mihael Kovacevic is to have an operation on his injured knee later this month.
He tore his cruciate ligament last week while training with his father during a trip home to Switzerland.
Kovacevic will report back to Tannadice next week to see the club’s medical staff before going under the surgeon’s knife on June 21.Plans for KovacevicHouston said, “He is going to see the same surgeon who did Jon Daly’s knee operation so hopefully he will be able to get him back playing in the same kind of timescale.”
The player’s contract expires in January but talks over his future will take place soon.
Houston said, “Mihael is a Scottish Cup winner who made a big contribution to the season we have just had.
“He is an important player and we will be doing everything to get him fit again so he can rejoin the squad.”
Houston is in the market for defensive cover and is understood to be interested, along with Motherwell and Watford, in Queen’s Park left-back Barry Douglas.
Douglas is on holiday and will consider where his future lies on his return later this week.
The Tangerines look set to travel to Humberside to play Hull City at the KC Stadium on Saturday, July 31.
Hull have just dropped down to the English Championship from the Premiership but would still provide a stern test for the Tannadice men in a match that is still to be confirmed.
The previous weekend, United are expected to be in Northern Ireland for a friendly against Glentoran on July 24.