Mikkelsen pledges he is ready to take care of ‘unfinished business’

Dundee united: Team better prepared for slog this time around

After falling at the final hurdle in last season’s play-offs, Thomas Mikkelsen admits he has unfinished business at Dundee United.

The big Dane was part of the Tangerines side that just came up short against Premiership outfit Hamilton last May, with Martin Canning’s men winning the two-leg tie thanks to a solitary Greg Docherty goal.

Now, as United prepare to face Dunfermline in the play-off quarter-final tonight, Mikkelsen is determined to give the club’s fans something to celebrate at last.

He said: “It will be a tough game but we owe it to our supporters to get to the next round and the play-off final.

“We want to do it for them. Last season against Hamilton was really disappointing for us.

“So I have unfinished business at United. I have something to prove and this club deserves to be in the best league.

“We have great supporters and it is a big club. I would love to go up this season and I think we can do it if we play like we can.”

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I have something to prove and this club deserves to be in the best league

United warmed up for tonight’s game by beating Livingston at Tannadice on Saturday, with Mikkelsen adding: “We have a lot of confidence going into the play-offs now.

“We have to get a good result at Dunfermline and I think we will.

“We have a lot of experience in our team now and we just have to take it one game at a time.

“But I am sure we will get through to the next round.

“We have a big squad with a lot of good players so we are in a good position.

“They will be two tough games against Dunfermline but hopefully we can get through.”

The gruelling two-game-a-week schedule undoubtedly took its toll on United last season but Mikkelsen believes they are better equipped to cope this time round.

He said: “We have played twice a week for the last few weeks so we are used to playing a lot of games in a short time.

“I think we look better this season compared with last because we are now used to playing a lot of games.

“We are in really good shape physically. We work a lot on shape and tactics but training is more relaxed.

“We have a lot of massages as well and a lot of rest.

“It has been a really tough five weeks for us so it is early to bed.

“I have a little baby girl so sometimes she keeps me up but my missus is really good at taking her in the night.”

Picture: SNS. There was heartbreak for Thomas Mikkelsen in last year’s play-offs against Hamilton.