Robbie Neilson admits Dundee United will have to pay special attention to Stephen Dobbie when Queen of the South visit today.
But he knows Scotland’s top marksman will not be the only threat to his unbeaten start as Tangerines boss.
Veteran Dobbie has hit the net 25 times in just 19 appearances this term and Robbie knows if he’s given a sight of goal he’s extremely likely to add to that tally.
He’s also aware even if United can keep him quiet, there will be others who pose a threat.
“You could have Gary Harkins, Stephen Dobbie and Lyndon Dykes in their line-up and I would say that’s their three key players, though whether Harkins comes back in I don’t know because he’s had a hamstring problem,” he said.
“Definitely Dykes and Dobbie will be key players. Stephen is, obviously, a very experienced player and you can’t give him a second because he’ll score.
“There is no doubt about that, his movement and his understanding of the game are very good. For me, he is probably the top striker in the league.”
Whether or not that will see someone handed a man-marking job on the 35-year-old, he would not say but it is a possibility.
“It’s something we, obviously, need to think about. If we can keep him quiet then we give ourselves a good chance of winning the game.
“It’s something we’ve worked on and spoken about – to make sure we don’t give him the chance to do anything.”
Whatever way he decides to deal with Dobbie, Robbie will be looking for another strong performance all round as he looks to extend his unbeaten start to four games.
“We defend as a team and that’s the thing I keep reiterating to the players.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a goalie or a striker, you work together when you defend and you work together when we’re in attack.
“It’s a team ethic and everyone does their work. Yes, the defenders have to deal with Dobbie, but the midfielders have to stop the supply into him and the attackers have to press the defenders so they don’t get the chance to play it to him.
“Everyone works together to try to make sure we negate any good players the opposition have.”
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