Dundee United manager Csaba Laszlo will welcome Fraser Fyvie back with open arms following the midfielder’s enforced absence at Falkirk.
Laszlo and Fyvie came to the joint decision to leave the key player out of what was viewed as a must-win match for the Tangerines’ gaffer on Saturday.
That may have been a brave move but the United boss admitted it was frustrating in the extreme to have a fit Fyvie sit out such an important fixture purely because they did not want to risk him on the artificial surface after so long out with a serious knee injury.
Thankfully, those who did play passed their Fyvie-less test with flying colours and now the United skipper is expected to start the game when Ross County visit Tannadice on Saturday.
Laszlo said: “It was a frustration to have a player who can’t play because of the pitch.
“We also have to accept, though, that he is someone who has been injured long-term.
“It has not just been an easy injury. It is not one that takes a little time to recover from.
“Psychologically, you must be ready for this kind of match.
“As a manager, you have to accept it when a player says: ‘This isn’t the best game for me.’
“For that reason he didn’t play but he will be OK for the Ross County match.”
Fyvie heads a group of influential players who are either coming back after injury or on the brink of a return.
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Billy King came on a substitute against the Bairns and is a candidate for a starting jersey against the Staggies.
There are others, too, with Laszlo adding last night: “Sam Stanton and Stewart Murdoch will begin training with the team tomorrow, while Nicky Clark will need another week.
“It is important to get these players back to speed.
Now the Tangerines hope to carry the momentum from what was an excellent away win into a tricky-looking home clash with the Staggies.
Laszlo is looking for them to up their game in front of their own fans, saying: “Our performances at Tannadice have not been so fantastic.
“We lost the first game against Dunfermline, beat Partick Thistle and then dropped two points against Morton.
“So it is important that we improve that and it is time to win again.
“We need the fans behind us.
“The players do not play just for themselves, they play for Dundee United as a whole and that includes the supporters.
“Sometimes you have good days and sometimes you have bad days but I know that this team will do everything for the club.
“After the Morton game I was sad and not satisfied with the result but I was satisfied that the players fought right to the end.
“I think the fans can recognise that they have a team on the pitch that will fight for results.
“Dundee United will always be a big club with tradition and we have a wish to be in a different league.
“It has been so long without us there and we want to go back.”
