Dundee United boss Jackie McNamara has joked about having a “strong” referee in charge against Inverness Caley Thistle, wondering if Geoff Capes should come out of retirement.
That Capes a medal-winning British shot putter in the 1970s who claimed the World’s Strongest Man crown before enjoying TV celebrity status should become the unlikely topic of United’s post-match briefing was due to ICT gaffer John Hughes.
When asked, in the aftermath of their weekend win over Partick Thistle, about Inverness’s next match against the Tangerines at Tannadice on Wednesday, Hughes stated: “If a strong referee allows us to play our own game we’ve got every chance of beating them.”
He was referring to the meeting of the clubs in the William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final in the Highlands earlier this month, when the home side lost two players to red cards as they were thrashed 5-0 by United.
McNamara wasn’t going to let that one pass by without challenge, saying: “I saw Yogi’s comments about the game, saying he wants a strong referee.
“I don’t know what he means by that. Maybe he wants Geoff Capes to be the ref, I’m not sure.
“You’ll need to ask Yogi about that.”
Instead of Capes, the man in the middle will be Euan Norris, but regardless of the absence or otherwise of a “strong” official the fourth-placed Tangerines will be looking to put distance between themselves and ICT while also staying in touch with Motherwell and Aberdeen above them.
They are certainly in excellent form, with McNamara pointing out: “Results have been good and that’s seven out of eight we have won.
“It’s certainly a good time to be hitting a bit of form, and hopefully we can keep it going until the end of the season. We have a lot of important games and all we can do is to try and keep winning.
“To be fair to Aberdeen and Motherwell, they keep winning as well, which makes it that bit more difficult for us.
“You want everyone in the squad confident and with a winning mentality, which is what we have at the moment.”
The Tangerines will give pre-match fitness checks to Gary Mackay-Steven and Keith Watson. Both missed the 2-1 win over Hearts on Friday night, Mackay Steven through illness and Watson due to a thigh strain.
McNamara believes both have a chance of making it, saying: “We don’t think it’s anything too serious with either of them, but we will have a look to check how they are.”
The United manager, meanwhile, poured cold water on comments from Dons chairman Stewart Milne that the likes of Aberdeen, United and Well could challenge Celtic for the championship next season.
Milne said: “There’s a number of teams in the Scottish Premiership making good progress. Motherwell have been up at the top end of the league for a number of seasons.
“Dundee United also have some fantastic young players coming through.
“If we all continue to progress, I’m very optimistic about the chances of our league becoming more competitive in the years ahead.”
However, McNamara a former Hoops star himself said: “I don’t think we’re consistent enough at the moment to mount a challenge to Celtic in the league.
“Nobody is right now, over the course of the whole season. In cup competitions you have more of a chance against them, but Celtic have a mentality where they can win without playing at their best.
“For Stewart Milne to say that Aberdeen and others can challenge, it’s a big statement to make. You are always hopeful of improving and, of course, you’d like to see it happening.
“But it’s different at Celtic because you have to live with so much expectation. I was brought up that way myself, having to win every single game.
“If you draw there it’s a crisis. That’s what every other club would love to have within their set-up that kind of mentality.
“You would hope to be able to take points off Celtic in a one-off game or beat them in a cup but, in the league, they have been solid.
“They haven’t conceded many goals and lost just one game in the league all season. That’s a tremendous achievement.
“That’s what everyone else has to aspire to.”