Utd players shouldn’t take any risks over ‘grey areas’

and we are going to make mistakes but let’s just try to get football played because that’s what we all want.”

On the pitch, Mellon seems pretty satisfied with how his team have performed on their top-flight return, albeit he is disappointed they lost 1-0 at home to Hibs on Tuesday night.

Over the three matches, they have not looked out of place and could have beaten rather than drawn with St Johnstone, while they were worthy winners at Motherwell.

Next is up is a trip up to Ross County tomorrow to face a side that, just like the Hibees, have started the campaign really well.

Mellon mused: “Are we getting closer to being competitive against the teams playing at the level we want to be successful at? My opinion is very much so.

“We have areas we want to improve on, we didn’t have the cutting edge against Hibs and know we have to get better.

“When we get into dangerous areas we need to be cleaner and tidier but we are doing an awful lot very well.

“The workrate is exceptional – it’s fabulous – and I believe we have what we need to make the improvements needed.

“If we can win tomorrow it would be a good start. We would have to be pleased with it.

“Performance-wise, I’m always honest with my team because that’s where you have to work from to make them better.

“If we go to Ross County with the same workrate and show a bit more quality in the final third, we will cause them a lot of problems.

“The league is much as I expected - very tight. You obviously have Celtic and Rangers but the rest of the games look very competitive and can swing at any moment on a little bit of detail.

“I am enjoying coming up against different teams, different challenges. You encounter a few different styles and even surfaces, so it has been very enjoyable.”

Mellon kept his cards close to his chest when asked about injuries, with Lawrence Shankland, Liam Smith, Jamie Robson, Ryan Edwards and Paul McMullan all on the casualty list.

He did, though, definitely rule Robson out of the trip to Dingwall and that’s no surprise after the terrible head knock the player suffered in midweek.

Mellon said: “If the game was today we’d have a number who would struggle but we’ll give them the maximum amount of time possible.

“Jamie Robson is definitely out, although he is feeling much better.

“Paul McMullan is also still recovering from his operation but he’s making progress and is on target to be back for the Celtic game.”