Dundee United have been handed a double fitness boost ahead of their Premiership Play-Off Final with Hamilton Accies.
Midfielder Scott Fraser has been given the all-clear by medics after fears he’d broken his foot for the second time in two months.
And, although full-back Stewart Murdoch will remain sidelined for tomorrow night’s first leg at Tannadice, he could be involved when the tie concludes at New Douglas Park on Sunday.
Fraser lasted only nine minutes as a substitute in Friday’s semi-final win at Falkirk before being withdrawn after he felt a “click” in the foot he fractured at St Mirren in March.
But manager Ray McKinnon has revealed everything is OK and he will be in the squad for tomorrow.
“Scott got an X-ray at the weekend just as a precaution and it showed the healing process is normal, so he’s fine,” he said.
“And Murdo has come on a lot quicker than we expected.
“When he had to come off in the first game against Falkirk, we thought his season was over.
“But he’s back doing some work and the physio thinks he has a chance of making the second game.”
On top of that good news, knocks suffered by Willo Flood, Cammy Bell and in-form Simon Murray during the course of the play-offs will not keep them out of action tomorrow.
The news on Murray will come as a particular relief given his four goals in the clashes with Morton and Falkirk so far in the post-season.
Delighted as Ray has been with the 25-year-old, he has highlighted the contribution of his strike partner Thomas Mikkelsen as well.
“Thomas hasn’t scored yet in the play-offs but he’s played his part alongside Simon,” he added.
“The pair of them have developed into a good partnership and I think Simon has benefited from the balls Thomas wins up front.
“In fact, all our front players have been going well and, although I’m not one who goes into stats too much, the ones from the games so far have shown how well they’ve done.”
The United gaffer also hit out at any questions over the Tangerines’ character earlier in the season, saying the “desire” shown by his players has proved that wrong.
“See the talk about our character, it wasn’t coming from me. It was coming from external people.
“People are entitled to their opinions but I don’t pay any attention to these people. I’m just really focused on what we have to do here.
“I know what this team is capable of.
“Do we want better quality? Of course we do.
“But what we’ve got is a team that for the last 11 or 12 games has shown an incredible desire to win every game.
“In my opinion we should have won every game based on chances created.
“That character people are talking about has been evident in all four play-off games so far and was typified by the second-half performance against Falkirk on Friday.
“You show character on the park and that’s what our players have done.
“We’ve always had belief in this set of players.”
Tickets for tonight continue to sell well. The Jerry Kerr Stand will be in use for home fans and it will be pay at the gate.
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