Dundee United’s players have been starved of game time and want to serve up a feast of football when they play Alloa.
That is the view of assistant boss Gordon Forrest, who has been busy keeping the Tangerines ticking over during their enforced break.
United last played on November 16 at home to Queen of the South and that has left them hungry for action.
So much so that they travelled through to Falkirk for a bounce game on Tuesday just so the first-team squad could get their legs working again.
Forrest said: “I think the players are dying to get onto the pitch.
“You can see the hunger.
“To be honest, it is one of those situations when they have been off for so long that you can feel it and see it on the training pitch.
“They just want to play.
“So, fingers crossed, they will go out there and do the business against Alloa on Saturday.”
One of the few United players not to feature in the match at the Falkirk Stadium was striker Lawrence Shanland but United aren’t making a meal out of that.
He was with the group but his involvement was confined to the warm-up and conditioning work as the Tangerines nurse him back to fitness following the thigh injury he suffered while on Scotland duty.
The message form Tannadice is still that he will be fit to play but you sense that the club’s prize asset will start the game on the bench.
Forrest added: “We are still tracking Lawrence to see how he is getting on.
“We will look at it again and review his fitness at the end of the week.
“He’s got a good chance.
“You can see what he’s done for us so far this season so it is great to have him back.
“He has done well, although we have been cautious with him up until now.
“We will make an assessment on Friday and see how much we can get him involved for Saturday.”
United, of course, managed fine without Shankland when they faced the Doonhamers while he was in Cyprus.
They won that game 3-0 and made some amends for their hammering at Palmerston back in October.
Now the target is to make up – at least a little bit – for the loss at the Indodrill that preceded the defeat in Dumfries.
“Credit to the other lads for winning and playing so well without Lawrence in our last game against Queen of the South,” added Forrest.
“To have that competition up front, with Lawrence back, is a great boost for the squad.
“Alloa proved in the last game down there when they beat us that it will be tough.
“Away from home, (manager) Peter Grant has got them well organised. They also have players who are good in possession.
“They caused us problems that last time.
“Since that defeat, though, we’ve got our heads down and the boys have worked hard.
“We are on a good run of form and especially looking forward to being back on home territory.
“We have a wonderful record here at Tannadice and want to keep that up.
“The backing from the fans has been fantastic.”
