Dundee United have not given up hope that skipper Fraser Fyvie will be fit for next week’s clash with Alloa.
Fyvie limped off after 64 minutes of Saturday’s massive win at promotion rivals Ross County with a hamstring problem.
That kind of injury often means an absence of several weeks but gaffer Robbie Neilson believes there is a chance the 25-year-old’s time out could be considerably shorter.
And with the Alloa game being put back to a week today from the original date this Saturday because of their continued involvement in the Irn-Bru Cup, there might just be enough time for Fyvie to get back without missing out.
“I don’t think it will be too bad. I think he has tweaked his hamstring and it’s one of those things,” said Robbie.
“We have been pushing him really hard and Fraser has been one of the key drivers for us, not just in games but in training as well.
“If it’s a grade one (the least bad) then he could be back for the Alloa game because we’ll have had 10 days between games.
“If Fraser has that level of injury then we might take that risk because he is such a key player for us.”
The influential Fyvie has only been back for nine games after eight months out with serious knee trouble.
Even if he doesn’t make the game next week, United will at least have the consolation of knowing his absence this time will be much briefer.
Goal hero Paul Watson also came off late on at the Global Energy Stadium because of an injury but he is expected to be back training in a few days.
He suffered a twisted knee.
And defender Frederic Frans is close to full fitness after missing the last two games.
He picked up a calf strain during the warm-up before the win over Queen of the South and, as well as sitting that one out, wasn’t risked in Dingwall.
Robbie said: “Freddy’s calf was a grade one, so he could have been able to play at County but we felt it was too much of a risk.”
United’s second string were back in Reserve Cup action today.
Their latest group game saw St Mirren visiting St Andrews.
As well as kids, several players who’ve been on the fringes of the first team were in line to be given some more game time.
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