Gavin Gunning will keep his cool tonight despite knowing the match against Aberdeen could be his last game at Tannadice for Dundee United, writes Ian Roache.
The big central defender is out of contract in the summer and, despite ruling nothing out, it seems he will he heading elsewhere.
There is still plenty to keep the Irishman occupied, with this clash against the Dons, the last league game at Celtic Park and then the Scottish Cup final at the same venue to come.
So Gunning is unlikely to let the emotion of the occasion get to him this evening.
He said: “It maybe will be my last game. I don’t know. We will just have to wait and see. I haven’t made any decisions yet.
“Regardless, I am not the emotional type. I have had great times here and I think I have done well for the club.
“If I do go, I would like to think I would leave with my head held high. Hopefully, we can win the cup first and then we’ll see what happens.
“You never know. Maybe I will be here next season,” he added. “I just want to get the cup final out of the way and then speak with my family before making a decision from there.”
United still have an outside chance of catching Motherwell in third spot on goal difference but would need to win their two games and hope the Steelmen pick up no points.
That is an unlikely scenario, according to Gunning.
“I think Motherwell will probably win one of two of the games they have left,” Gunning said. “You never know, though.
“Anyway, we are looking to send the fans away with a good result and then hopefully they will come back next season.”
Manager Jackie McNamara is relaxed about Gunning’s contract situation, saying: “It is ongoing and Gavin is assessing his options, which he has every right to do.
“I think it will be difficult to keep him because he is a free transfer. That is part and parcel of the game and it will be my job to go out and replace him if he does leave.”
United will be without Gary Mackay-Steven, who is still suffering from the chest infection that affected him during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Inverness.
Stuart Armstrong sat out the Caley Thistle game and is likely to remain on the sidelines tonight because of a hamstring injury.
On top of that, the boss revealed that midfield duo John Rankin and Paul Paton are carrying knocks.
McNamara said: “There are a few struggling to make it. GMS came in for training but we sent him home as he has a chest infection. He will miss out.
“Stuart Armstrong has a hamstring injury so we didn’t take a chance on him at Inverness. There is a good chance he will be out too.
“Paul Paton and John Rankin are also carrying knocks so we will see how they are. So there might be a few missing but we will just have to see how we go.
“You don’t want to send someone out for a game if they are not 100%. For example, we would not be risking Stuart’s hamstring at any time of the season. You just do not take that risk as it could put him out for weeks.
“You want people rested properly and ready. Our physio Jeff Clarke is not overly concerned it is more that we are being cautious.
“Regardless of the team we put out we want to give a good account of ourselves and win the match.
“It should be a good match and I think our last one against them the 1-1 draw at Pittodrie was a fantastic game.
“Both teams went for it and there were a lot of chances. Realistically it will be difficult for us to get third but all we can do is give it our best shot. I am looking forward to it.”