I Will NoT Be DoUBTiNg THoMaS iF

THOMAS COURTS insists he’s ready to step into the Dundee United dugout if boss Micky Mellon is forced to remain in isolation.

The Tannadice gaffer and his backroom team are in quarantine having been flagged up in the contact tracing after three members of staff tested positive for Covid-19.

No players have been hit and

United are in talks with the SFA and NHS for the boss and his coaches to take the team against Livingston tomorrow.

If denied, Mellon is facing a fortnight in the house – which would force him to sit out next week’s clash with Rangers.

But academy chief Courts, who took training yesterday, has a hotline to the gaffer and insists the side will cope.

The former Kelty Hearts boss said: “The modern coaching environment is so fluid just now, with all the protocols, governance and guidelines, that you need to be agile and flexible in dealing with any situation that develops.

“At this moment in time the

gaffer would probably want me to be focused on a daily basis. We’re speaking every six hours and I’ve already talked to him twice today.

“I will take training tomorrow and if Saturday is required we will just take that in our stride. I feel like I have a good understanding of how I need to represent the gaffer.

“I have the detail that the players need to see and hear out on the training pitch.

“Micky has been updated at regular intervals and seems quite content just now.”

Courts, right, insisted his move from the youth set-up will be seamless in the short term.

He said: “I’m excited to be of service to the club and players and to be able to give the gafferffer and his staff the support theyey need at this time. I don’t feel fazeded at all. I’m just excited at the opportunity. pportunity.

“I’m actually in a fortunate unate position because I do some me opposition work for the first team so I have actually seen Livingston personally four times, including at Tannadice.”