St Johnstone’s comeback striker Steven MacLean is set to get his second start in six days at Aberdeen on New Year’s Day.
Perth boss Tommy Wright admitted playing back-to-back matches in quick succession after a four-month lay-off is “not ideal”, but Saints are light on options up front.
Brian Graham is still suspended, James McFadden is unlikely to be risked, Adam Morgan has returned to Yeovil and Chris Kane is still at Dumbarton.
So if MacLean shows no reaction over the next couple of days to his first 90 minutes since knee surgery at the start of September, he’ll be back in against the Dons.
“It’s not ideal, but Macca could start,” Wright said.
“He’s in good shape. Then he might not play against Hamilton because three games in eight games would be pushing it.
“The plan wasn’t to play him for 90 minutes against United.
“We thought if we could get 70 out of him that would be long enough. We kept him out of defensive set plays to protect him. As the game went on he came more into it.”
Murray Davidson missed the Dundee United match as a result of an abscess in his mouth, but Wright is hopeful he’ll be available for the trip north.
“Murray Davidson had an abscess and didn’t get any sleep,” he reported. “He couldn’t have gone on the bench. He was up all night and had to see the doc.
“The tooth has to come out. Once he gets the antibiotics in him and the pain relief he should be okay for the Aberdeen game.
“Faddy should be back in full training Tuesday but we have to be careful with him and not take a risk.”
Wright takes team spirit and endeavour as a given with his team, but he believes the quality of the football they have been producing on their six-game winning streak should not be overlooked.
He pointed out: “The (United) performance encapsulated what we are all about. But we also showed we can play football and pass the ball about.
“I like the way United play and they get their full backs forward. But we had Dave Mackay and Brian Easton getting up and down and taking shots.
“The character and work ethic is still there but we are playing better football with confidence growing. We have slowly changed how we play since taking over.
“Team spirit can be overlooked. But it is incredible in this squad. They were away in Dublin and they have come back ever more united, gelled even more as a group if that is possible. And they gave the lie to suggestions they can only win from the front.”
To make it seven out of seven, Saints will have to beat the other form team of the Premiership, who are now being talked up as title contenders.
Wright commented: “We are looking forward to seeing Derek (McInnes) and Tony (Docherty). With their connections to the club there is always mutual respect among the staff.
“It is an incredible run we are on. To win five in a row is incredible so we can go there with a lot of confidence.
“We are playing one of the top sides in the country but we have come a long way since we decided enough was enough and went back to basics against Partick and got a 0-0 to get us back on track. We have built on that.”