Dundee United striker Johnny Russell knows that if he comes under cyber attack after the Dundee derby then he will have done his job.
The Tannadice frontman has declared himself fit and ready to try to fire the Tangerines into the last four of the Scottish Cup when they face city rivals Dundee at Dens Park on Sunday.
In-form Russell has had a question mark hanging over his availability after a crunching tackle just below the knee ended his involvement in Wednesday’s SPL draw against Inverness Caley Thistle.
The news that such a key United player could miss the derby was welcomed by some fans of the Dens club, who saw their side draw with St Johnstone that same evening.
However, Russell is confident he will win his fitness race and he hopes to look forward to some banter with disgruntled Dundee supporters should United win their fourth successive all-city contest since the summer.
“If Dundee fans were getting excited about me going off then I suppose it’s a compliment,” said Russell. “It’s not nice to wish injury on someone but these things happen. “Anyway, I have a good relationship with some of the Dundee fans. There’s nothing wrong with a bit of banter and I have had it on Twitter with them before.
“Some people take it too far and some don’t know what they’re talking about half the time, but on the whole it’s good-natured.”
After the previous derby, Russell was sent messages highlighting how he was sold a dummy by Dundee keeper Rab Douglas but he hit back by posting footage of his thunderous strike against Dundee at Tannadice earlier in the season.
“After the last game I had the thing with Rab Douglas,” he said. “I was laughing at the time about it and the fans were having a go at me. It was all in good humour.
“It’s when people get personal it becomes a problem because at the end of the day it’s just football.
“I have had abuse from other fans in the past not Dundee fans and that was death threats and people hoping my family got killed. Obviously, that stuff is not the nicest to read but that’s just idiots over the computer who think they can get away with anything.
“Sadly, that’s part and parcel of football these days. I don’t think people think. They get angry for some reason usually at me and decide to tweet something.
“So I suppose if I am getting some abuse from Dundee fans on Sunday then I’ve done something right. If you get under their skin then it shows you’re doing your job well.”
Jackie McNamara’s men have, of course, notched up three successive 3-0 victories over their rivals in first a friendly then two league encounters at Tannadice then Dens respectively.
Russell thinks the Dark Blues will be right up for this one and could get a lift from the appointment of John Brown as their manager.
“We got a boost with our new gaffer coming in and Dundee will be the same,” he said. “This will be the hardest game against them because they have nothing to lose. They are adrift at the bottom of the table but they will see this as a massive game.
“I wouldn’t say we have played well in the derbies this season. We’ve been like that all season, playing well for a while and not so well after that. In the previous derby matches Dundee had the early chances but we’ve managed to take ours.
“Hopefully we can click on Sunday. We are playing with a lot more fluidity and look better on the field. Hopefully, we can take that into Sunday it can maybe be another nice scoreline for us.”
Russell missed out on United’s run to Scottish Cup glory in 2010 because he was on loan to Raith Rovers at the time, so he would love to sample Hampden as a key member of this United team.
“I was at Raith in 2010 but was still around the place,” he said. “The lads are determined to get back to Hampden again and it would be great if we could.”
As for the injury, Russell was smiling and looking confident when chatting about it.
“There is still plenty of time and it’s getting better every day,” he said. “I’m doing everything I can to be fit. I am working with the physio and will be honest with the gaffer.
“Obviously I wouldn’t say I was fit if I wasn’t but I’m making good progress and am desperate to play. You have to be honest, though. If you think there’s a chance you’d have to come off or leave the team a man down then you have to admit that. But as things stand I’m hopeful.”
For more in-depth build-up to the big match, see Saturday’s Courier or try our new digital edition.