Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara looks likely to change his derby-winning team.
With striker Nadir Ciftci now free of suspension and midfielder Stuart Armstrong with half-an-hour of Sunday’s 4-1 Premiership victory over Dundee behind him, the Tannadice boss has a couple of tempting options available to him for tonight’s League Cup third round clash at Tannadice.
The smart money is on both Ciftci and Armstrong starting the game, although McNamara didn’t quite confirm that would be the case.
“We have food for thought with Nadir back and Stuart getting a taste for it with his half-hour at Dens,” said McNamara.
“Stuart looked good when he came on and has that extra bit of pace and cleverness that can stretch a game. I think we missed him in a couple of games.
“It’s good to have boys coming back and we are getting stronger.
“Last year we changed things a little at times, especially in the League Cup, but that was just trying to keep everyone fresh and part of the squad,”
As enjoyable as the Dens victory was, McNamara wants his players to forget all about that result and concentrate on trying to get through to the next round of the cup.
“That game is gone and if it had been the other way and gone against us it wouldn’t have changed anything for me.
“Sunday night was great and the fans were happy that we beat our rivals. But Dundee will be thinking about this as an opportunity to put things right.
“They will be up for it again to put it right so quickly. We have a chance to do it again but Dundee will be hurting and we need to match them.
“It would be great for the fans to win back-to-back derbies. It means a lot to them but it’s also a chance to get into the next round of the cup.”
The United boss, who said there are one or two knocks to players that should clear up before kick-off, is looking for his defence to stay solid against opponents who are likely to up their game.
“We have 16 goals, are the top scorers in the league and want to keep that going but the goals against column has also been pleasing, apart from the Celtic game which really frustrated us.
“We got praised last season for our attacking play but defensively we have looked more solid at the back this season.
“We worked on some things over the summer and we are playing together more as a team at the back.”