By Ian Roache

IT MAY be unconventional but Dundee United captain Lee Wilkie is backing his revamped training regime to bring out the best in him.

In a nutshell, he does his own thing until the end of the week when he joins the rest of the squad for the penultimate workout before match day.

The plan was devised by manager Craig Levein and physio Jeff Clarke to ease the pressure on Wilkie’s knee, which has seen more than its fair share of damage over the years.

It may rob the big man of the daily banter with his buddies but, significantly, he believes it is working in his favour.

“It has been a bit frustrating and, in a sense, it has felt like I’m injured when I’m not,” said Wilkie.

“You are limited to what you can do in the gym so it does get a bit boring.

“I do miss being part of the main squad at times.

“There are always going to be people coming back from injury, so I do get some company in the gym, but I miss things like the five-a-sides etc.

“My weekly routine is a combination of spin class, weights, aqua jogging, cycling, circuit training, swimming and more cycling.

“It’s basically about avoiding doing anything that puts pressure on the knee.

“The good thing is that my knee felt great against Hamilton last Saturday and there has not been any swelling since so this new training plan seems to be working.

“That is the important thing and when you see that it is helping it makes it easier to get on with the work.

“I am also getting physically stronger through doing more weights so that’s another positive to take out of it.

“I am then scheduled to get an op to clean the knee up at the end of the season.

“It is not a huge deal and if I didn’t get it done I would still be fine. However, this should make it even better.”

Tannadice boss Levein, who will select Wilkie today then lose him to suspension for the first two post-split fixtures, added, “There is no other player in the country with the training regime he has and it’s devised just to enable him to play on a Saturday.

“It must be frustrating for him because he wants to be involved with the rest of the lads, but all credit to him for the performances he has been putting in.”

Wilkie believes United have some unfinished business to sort out when they face Kilmarnock today, having lost their last two meetings with the Ayrshire men,” said the skipper.

“I am looking forward to playing against them because they have been bit of a bogy team for us, just as Hamilton were until last weekend.

“We put that one right and now, hopefully, we can do it for a second time against Killie.

“Every match is important at this stage of the season but I think there is added incentive there because of how poorly we have played against them previously.

“Also, we let ourselves down a bit after the split last year so it’s our aim to finish the season well this time.

“I think we have been slightly unlucky over the last wee while, with good play not really equalling points.

“So if we do click for 90 minutes then we can really be confident about winning the game.”

Levein was pleased to report yesterday that both Warren Feeney and Morgaro Gomis were back in the frame for the Killie match but that Darren Dods would definitely miss out.

“Darren is 75% there but all I’m bothered about is making sure he’s fit and available for the first game after the split,” said the United boss.

He has been impressing upon his players the need to get off to a good start against Killie and to try to maintain that for the duration of the game.

“We’ve been playing well for 45 minutes in recent games but we need to do that for 90,” he added.

“If we can achieve that consistency we’ll be difficult to live with.

“In this league the first goal can decide the outcome so it’s important to start well and get our noses in front.

“Killie’s need for points is as great as ours. On their day, as we’ve found to our cost this season, they can beat us, so we have to make sure we do our job properly.”

Kilmarnock will be without playmaker Manuel Pascali.

The midfielder picked up his 13th booking of the season in the defeat at Hearts two weeks ago and begins a two-match ban.

James Fowler (foot) is back in training but the game comes too soon for the defender. However, winger Willie Gibson is back in contention after his foot problem.