Gary Mackay-Steven looks set to start for Dundee United when they host St Mirren at Tannadice on Saturday.
The winger has made a positive difference to United’s forward play after coming on as a substitute during their last three matches against Hearts, Kilmarnock and Aberdeen.
Now he appears likely to be rewarded with a starting place against the rejuvenated Buddies.
United boss Jackie McNamara, who celebrated his 40th birthday on Thursday, said: “Gary did very well when he came on at Pittodrie. The game started to get stretched and you could see them (Aberdeen) getting deeper.
“Gary has that threat and he can cause teams problems. Now he’s back in contention for this Saturday after his fitness worries of recent weeks that have seen him lose his place.
“He was magnificent up at Ross County before that when he helped us win the match, and then he went and got injured again. He is knocking on the door, although the young lads have done great too.”
Someone else who has done themselves a power of good in recent weeks is St Mirren boss Danny Lennon. He was on the brink of the sack before a draw against Aberdeen, win over Hearts and then another victory over St Mirren helped transform his own and his club’s fortunes.
McNamara said of his fellow manager: “It was doom and gloom a few weeks ago. Now, all of a sudden, they are in a good bit of form with seven points out of nine in the bag.
“They will be buoyed by their results, especially Danny. He was under a bit of scrutiny earlier in the season which was a bit unnecessary for a guy who only months earlier had won a bit of silverware.
“It just shows you how fickle football can be.
“You don’t like to see another manager under pressure. I am pleased for him but hopefully we can send him home disappointed on Saturday.”
United left Pittodrie last Saturday feeling a little hard done by after they performed better than the Dons for long periods of the match.
Now the gaffer wants to get back on track with a victory in front of a home crowd.
McNamara said: “We’re keen to get back to winning ways. It was a disappointing result at Aberdeen last weekend as I felt we didn’t deserve to lose.
“But it’s important we do things right in the final third and take our chances.
“You can only dictate so much in a game. Eighty per cent of the game is positioning, organisation and fitness but the last 20% can come down to poor decision-making, a lapse in concentration or a poor refereeing decision.
“At Aberdeen it was a lapse in concentration which cost us at the back for their goal.
“It was a long ball through the middle but there was a lack of communication from our point of view.
“In fact, it was the only time in open play which they managed to do that to us.
“In saying that, it’s just important for us to keep our concentration at the other end when it comes to finishing as it is keeping things tight at the back.
“I hope St Mirren come here and play and attack us. It should be a good game.”