Dundee United legend Maurice Malpas says he hopes his old club keep hold of their stars to mount a serious title challenge in the second half of the season.
Malpas, who is now director of football at Championship side Raith Rovers, hasn’t been surprised at speculation linking Celtic with moves for the likes of Stuart Armstrong and Nadir Ciftci given their performances in recent months.
But the 52-year-old former United defender firmly believes that the Tangerines can run the Hoops close in the remaining five months of the season if they can retain the services of their top players in the January window.
“Jackie McNamara will be desperate to keep his players together and maybe will be trying to get someone else in with a bit of experience to help some of the younger ones,” he commented.
“I’d be surprised if they let anybody go in January because it will weaken their team let’s put it that way.
“But to be honest I don’t think Celtic will pay enough (for Armstrong and Ciftci).
“I’m surprised Armstrong is still there, if I’m being brutally honest about it, and I thought he might be away before now.
“But he isn’t away and I would doubt they would sell him now.
“United have got great legs in their team and that’s probably one of the biggest things about United just now.
“So they won’t be wanting to lose anybody in January and they’ll be sniffing around trying to get somebody else in.”
Until being appointed director of football at Stark’s Park last week, Malpas, who made over 800 appearances for United and won 55 caps for Scotland, has been out of work since leaving Hibs in the summer.
That has given him plenty of time to follow the fortunes of his former club and, ahead of the Dundee derby tomorrow, he believes United can play better than they have done in the first half of the season.
“I’ve seen a wee bit of United this year having been out of a job and the results have been great this year, but I don’t think they’ve played as well as they did last year,” he stressed.
“Any time I had seen them last year I thought their performances were better, but it’s not about performances.
“It’s about results.
“I’m sure they’ll be disappointed with their result against St Johnstone, getting themselves in front and then losing, but come derby day it’s about being big and strong and mentally ready for it.
“It’s where big match players play.”