Dundee United defender Garry Kenneth is set to miss this weekend’s game against St Mirren.
The centre-back picked up a groin strain in the first half of United’s 5-1 win over St Johnstone on Saturday and was replaced by Sean Dillon.
Treatment has begun on the Scotland international but the early signs are that he’s likely to be sidelined for the visit of Danny Lennon’s men.
Assistant boss Gary Kirk said: ”Garry has a groin problem. We’ll see how he is but I would say he’s already a big doubt for the St Mirren game this weekend.
”It’s a shame for him but Sean Dillon came on against St Johnstone and did well.”
The Tangerines are one of the form teams in Scotland at the moment, after following up their cup victory at Ibrox with their best league result of the season.
They are back in the top six and there isn’t much daylight between them and a European place.
Kirk believes that they’re now coming into a run of games that will define their season.
He said: ”The next couple of weeks is going to be massive for us. We have St Mirren and Killie at home then Hearts away so that’s three huge games.
”The results went for us on Saturday, we’re back in there now so we’ll see what happens.
”It was a great three points at the weekend, even if the score did flatter us a bit. St Johnstone were better than us in the first half and we didn’t play until it went to 2-1.
”But after that I think we did very well, we stretched them and created a lot of chances.”
If United are the team of the moment, then winger Gary Mackay-Steven is the player of the moment.
The 21-year-old was a constant menace down the left flank and Kirk admitted that he hasn’t seen many better than the former Airdrie United man in his position this season.
He said: ”Gary has done brilliantly and he’s getting better all the time. He has not actually played a lot of games in his career so is kicking on really well. The wee trick he did was magnificent, it was amazing to get away from three defenders the way he did.
”He takes a lot of kicks but he just gets up and gets on with it. He’s a fantastic player and a really good lad to work with.
”When you have the likes of Gary Mackay-Steven, Johnny Russell and Stuart Armstrong in your side you will always make opportunities to score.”