Dundee United’s plans to dip into the transfer market could be up in the air after it emerged full-back Paul Dixon’s injury may be worse than first thought.
Gaffer Ray McKinnon has been in the market for a centre-half and a striker and this week has had a look at Dutch defender Christian Supusepa on trial.
The former Sparta Rotterdam player has been training with the Tangerines since Tuesday and took part in a bounce game against Forfar on Wednesday night.
Ray has also been linked with a move for Peterhead’s prolific striker Rory McAlister and, although he has dismissed that speculation, he has made no secret of the fact he would like to add another attacking option to his squad.
Any new arrivals before Saturday’s Championship opener with Queen of the South at Tannadice, however, now look unlikely.
That’s because the manager first wants to know how bad the knee injury Dixon suffered up at Inverness during the Betfred Cup group stages last month is.
Initially it was hoped his absence would be measured in days but, almost two weeks after limping off in the Highlands, the 29-year-old has still not been able to resume training.
That’s led to the medical staff sending him for a more detailed examination.
“Dicker was getting a scan on his knee today and we should know the extent of his injury later on,” said Ray.
“Touch wood it is not as bad as feared and he is back in training next week — but if it is, he might have to get a small op.
“So it’s all up in the air until we get the results of the scan.”
If it is the worse-case scenario, Ray is not hiding what a blow that would be to his plans.
As well as their defensive duties, the manager sees his full-backs as potent attacking options and, in their games to date, Dixon and right-back Lewis Toshney have been star men for the Tangerines.
“Losing him would be huge. It’s the type of thing we could do without at the start of the season.
“Depending on how long he is out we might have to dip into the market.
“If it wasn’t going to be too long, we probably wouldn’t go sign anybody as we have young Jamie Robson and Dillo (Sean Dillon).”
Eighteen-year-old Robson impressed when he stood in for Dixon against Dunfermline at the weekend and Ray believes he is a player with a bright future.
“I thought Jamie did well on Sunday and for a young lad he went in there and held his own. I was delighted for him and he gives us another option.
“He’s been out to Brechin last season and got some first-team experience and he’s played with the U/20s a few times this summer and done well.
“His attitude in training has been spot on and that’s why we went with him on Sunday because he deserved his chance.
“With Dicker out we could easily have gone with Sean Dillon but his appetite for the game is tremendous and we thought let’s see what he can do.
“If Dicker is going to be out, we needed to see what options we had and he’s shown himself to be one.
“He’s certainly not done himself any harm, the way he played.”
As well as Dixon, United will be without in-form midfielder Scott Fraser on Saturday.
He’s suspended.
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