Gary Mackay-Steven ‘not anywhere near’ returning for Dundee United

Dundee United manager Peter Houston fears star winger Gary Mackay-Steven will be out of action for longer than first thought.

Mackay-Steven underwent a tidy-up knee operation at the end of August, and the prognosis then was a six-week lay-off.

The 22-year-old had been playing through the pain barrier but it was decided there was no option but for him to go under the knife.

Since then he has been badly missed as United’s league form has slumped.

Houston has now revealed they cannot expect him back any time soon.

”Gary is taking time,” he said. ”He’s not anywhere near ready to join back in training so he is still doing the rehabilitation.

”A couple of times the knee has swelled up a bit and then it’s gone down again so we’re just being gentle with him.

”Looking back, I think six weeks is maybe a bit optimistic with regards to when we first spoke about it. I think he’s going to be a bit longer than that but we’ll just wait and see.”