Dundee United boss Mixu Paatelainen confirms striker has suffered injury blow

Dundee United boss Mixu Paatelainen has confirmed that Florent Sinama Pongolle has suffered a hamstring injury but he does not yet know how long the player will be out for.

The former Liverpool striker fell to the turf after just 10 minutes of Saturday’s game at Tannadice against Partick Thistle clutching the back of his leg with the Frenchman immediately signalling to the bench that his game was over.

Another home debutant, Guy Demel, gave an assured display until he was substituted in the 57th minute, a decision that did not go down too well with some of the United supporters.

However, Paatelainen revealed that Demel, who had last played away back in January, had asked to come off.

The manager said: “It is Florent’s hamstring. I don’t know (how long he will be out for).

“Guy Demel asked to come off because he was tired.

“I know some supporters would question why I would take him off but he asked to come off so that was the reason.”