Mellon no stranger to Saint star Tanser

MICKY Mellon’s impressive schooling of his Dundee United team has already reaped its rewards with the top six Premiership position the Tannadice club currently finds itself in.

But it’s his coaching of one of the St Johnstone players that threatens to come back to bite him in today’s Tayside derby.

Mellon was an early influence in the career of Perth full-back Scott Tanser.

The defender, who is set to return to the Saints starting lineup after a knee injury sustained a fortnight ago proved to be less serious than first feared, shared the pitch with one of the United manager’s sons when he was growing up in Lancashire.

And, given the high standards Tanser has regularly hit this season, Mellon was as effective at developing young lads starting out in the game on England’s west coast as he has been with senior pros in Scotland’s east.

“I’ve known Micky from when I was a little boy,” said Tanser. “We are from the same area. I know him very well.

“He was the manager for my junior team, Lytham. Me and his son have always been really close and he took our team for a few years.

“He took some sessions and it was nothing more than that. I think it was when he was at Fleetwood.”

Tanser doesn’t have an encylopedic knowledge of the style of football Mellon’s sides played in the lower leagues in England but, from the three matches Saints have already played against their local rivals this season, he has a good idea of what to expect from United.

“I didn’t really keep up with Micky when he was down south,” he said.

“But, if I go off with what he’s doing at Dundee United, he is maybe a little more defensiveminded than attacking.

“His team likes to sit in and break out. They are a good defensive side.”

That Tanser would be fit to play in this game – or indeed this season – looked improbable when he collapsed in pain at Aberdeen on Boxing Day. The former Port Vale man certainly feared the worst.

“When it happened I just felt my knee buckle and it clicked,” he said. “I thought: ‘Oh no, what is going on here’.

“I honestly thought that was it for the season and that was going to be me preparing for next season. I was very lucky that it was just a bit of bruising and I will just carry on now.

“I’m not one to be injured touch wood so it was a strange feeling thinking: ‘What do I do now?

“I’ve never really had a serious injury so I’m hoping that continues. I missed two games but made a bench appearance at Ross County.

“I have had a full week of training now and there’s been no reaction from the injury, so I’m all good to go.”

Micky Mellon