Csaba to shuffle pack with play-offs in mind

WITH the focus now on securing second spot and chopping two fixtures from a hectic end of season programme, Csaba Laszlo is set to shuffle his pack for the visit of Queen of the South tomorrow.

After Saturday’s home draw with Inverness Caley Thistle, the Dundee United boss conceded for the first time automatic promotion from the Championship is now out of reach.

Runaway leaders St Mirren are now 19 points ahead and even if the Tangerines were to win their three games in hand, they’d be trailing by 10.

Csaba knows only a spectacular collapse by the Buddies would see that deficit overhauled, so he’s now concentrating on second.

That would give his side a 10-day break at the end of the regular campaign and entry to the play-offs at the semi-final stage.

With midweek fixtures the norm until the last week of the league, he knows that period of rest could prove crucial.

And already he is thinking in terms of rotating his squad to keep them as fresh as possible.

He’s revealed Celtic kid Anthony Ralston, signed on an emergency loan on Friday, could feature against the Doonhamers.

“I don’t want to put the rainbows over the windows and tell us there is still first place,” said Csaba.

“I think it is more a battle for the second, third and fourth places.

“So for this reason I am happy that Anthony has joined us and I am sure he can help us.”

Striker Scott McDonald could also step up to the starting line-up after impressing from the bench in the last two outings.

Fit-again playmaker Scott Fraser is likely to remain on the bench after his brief appearance against ICT, but the next week or two will see him back in the starting line-up.

“I gave him some minutes and he had a good possibility of a shot but didn’t manage it,” Csaba added.

“That was maybe because of a lack of game time but it was good that he came back.

“He will give us a little bit more creativity in the final third.

“Scott McDonald also showed in the second half that he is a player who can help the team.”

Looking back to Saturday, Csaba was disappointed by a sluggish firsthalf performance, but felt the game could have been won in the second.

“We did not start well, but I have to compliment the boys for the second half when we could have won.”

Anthony Ralston could make his United debut against QoS.