DEFENSIVE COVER PROBLEMS

The first team squad were given Thursday off and will resume their build up to Sunday's closing league game, against Celtic at Parkhead, on Friday morning. It is now looking very unlikely that centre-half Darren Patterson will recover from an Achilles tendon problem in time to face Celts and with David McCracken and David Partridge suspended, that will leave United short on defensive cover.

Tassos Venetis' thigh knock is improving, though , and he should be ready.