Turn the clock back little over a month and it was hard to imagine a Dundee United starting line-up without Fraser Fyvie.
Even amid the struggles that ultimately led to boss Ray McKinnon getting the sack, the summer signing had been a standout at the heart of the Tangerines midfield.
That was illustrated by two goals and a commanding performance as then-Championship leaders Dunfermline were brushed aside 3-1.
An injury, however, suffered in the loss to Inverness Caley Thistle in what turned out to be McKinnon’s final game changed that.
Fyvie was forced to miss the morale-boosting win at bogey team Dumbarton and the following week only came off the bench late on as United, rejuvenated under caretaker boss Laurie Ellis, beat St Mirren at Tannadice to move within goal difference of the top of the division.
It means the 24-year-old isn’t a certain starter for new manager Csaba Laszlo’s first league game, when Falkirk visit Tannadice on Sunday.
Rather than complain or curse his luck, though, he’s just getting on with making sure he does all he can to show his new boss he should be back as a starter soon.
“What’s happened is just part and parcel of the game — you get injured, the team does well and you just have to do what you can to get back in the side.
“The team’s been good the past couple of league games, so you don’t expect too many changes.
“Obviously, on Saturday past (the Irn-Bru Cup loss to Crusaders) it was not great but you do what you can, put yourself in contention, it’s all you can do.”
And Fyvie does believe the arrival of Laszlo has given everyone in the Tangerines dressing-room a target to aim for.
“It’s a clean slate and the manager will have his own ideas about how he wants the team to play.
“He’ll pick players he feels can win the game and play the way he wants to play.
“And it’s healthy just now, everybody is out training and there’s competition. It’s healthy for the squad and it’s healthy for the manger.
“He has choices to make but he’s the manager and he has to make those choices. As players we have to stick by that and respect it.”
The former Aberdeen, Wigan and Hibs man believes, for the weekend, those choices will be after consulting Tannadice No 2 Ellis.
He’s happy with that and believes the continued presence of the popular coach has to be a positive for United.
“I think with Laurie still being here he has an influence.
“Working with the manager, he’ll have his ideas and give them to the boss, who’ll have his own ideas as well.
“I think they will work well together. It can only be positive to see how we go in the next few games.”
The first of these fixtures affords the opportunity for United to move to the top of the table. While that would be nice, Fyvie is well aware being top in November guarantees nothing.
Nor is he taking victory for granted against a team that has struggled badly this season but he still rates highly.
“I think we take each game as it comes and just look for the three points, that’s what every team does. It will be no different on Sunday.
“You have to take it game by game, get three points and take it from there.
“Falkirk have finished second for the last two years, they know what the league is about and they know how to go about things in this league.
“With Paul Hartley coming in, I think they will improve. He will put his stamp on the team and they will get better. It is going to be a hard game.”
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