Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara is hoping Nadir Ciftci can ignore all the transfer talk and be a derby hero.
The Tangerines’ striker has been linked with a possible move to Celtic but McNamara is looking for the Turk to forget about all that and focus on scoring against Dundee at Tannadice in tomorrow’s lunchtime kick-off.
The United boss cited the example of Stuart Armstrong as one for his teammmate to follow.
Armstrong was discussed publicly by both Celtic manager Ronny Deila and captain Scott Brown in the build-up only for the midfielder to go out and score what proved to be the winner against the Parkhead men in a thrilling 2-1 victory 10 days ago.
McNamara said: “I just hope it doesn’t unsettle the boys as it did before.
“It was the same this time last year and it is the same for every transfer window, It doesn’t go away.
“Back then it wasn’t just one or two. There were at least six who were linked with moves, including Gauldy (Ryan Gauld), Soapy (John Souttar), Andy (Robertson), Stuart (Armstrong), Nadir (Ciftci) and GMS (Gary Mackay-Steven).
“This year so far it has been Stuart and Nadir.
“Nobody else in the league seems to get this apart from maybe Celtic.
“That is a compliment and a sign that the players are doing well but sometimes the timing can be better.
“It is up to us to stay focused, settle the players down and reassure them that nothing has happened and there is nothing to talk about.
“We had the Stuart one to Celtic just before we played them but he went out there and played well.
“Hopefully, Nadir will do the same in the derby.”
United’s big injury doubt is over central defender Callum Morris, who carried an Achilles injury through the 2-1 defeat to St Johnstone on Saturday.
“We still have a few doubts, especially Callum with his Achilles,” confirmed McNamara.
“I would say he is 50-50.
“He did well to last as long as he did because we were a wee bit stretched at the back at that point.
“Jarek Fojut was also struggling because he had a cold.
“He wasn’t going to play when he first came in that morning but we agreed that if was really struggling we would take him off.
“He managed to get through it, as did John Rankin who also had a cold.
“I suppose most teams suffer these things at this time of year and you just have to get on with it.”
McNamara is predicting a barnstorming beginning at Tannadice tomorrow, after which he wants his players to impose themselves on Paul Hartley’s team.
“Dundee are coming off a bad result at home and I read Paul’s comments about a derby being agreat one to come back in so they will be up for it,” said McNamara.
“So I expect it to be similar to the League Cup midweek game earlier in the season when Dundee had a big reaction to losing to us in the league.
“I thought they came out firing that night.
“I expect this to be, first and foremost, a battle, a bit kick and rush at times.
“Once it settles down, though, hopefully we can cause them problems.”