‘Special player’ starting to hit top form

Durnan hails midfielder Fraser as having quality to win games

Dundee United defender Mark Durnan is backing “special player” Scott Fraser to lead the Tannadice club to promotion.

The Tangerines’ midfielder was linked with English League One side Wigan Athletic earlier this week, just days after his double secured a vital 2-1 win over Dunfermline that sent United back to the top of the Championship table.

Now over a painful foot injury that dogged him since last spring, Fraser has emerged as a star man in new manager Csaba Laszlo’s team. Durnan is delighted about that. He is confident his teammate will hang around and won’t be affected by any speculation.

Durnan is also sure Fraser, whose current contract runs until the end of this season, will continue to produce the goods for United, including when they face Morton at Cappielow this afternoon.

The central defender said: “Scott is starting to hit top form, which is great to see because he had been struggling with his injury.

“You could see even in pre-season that his foot wasn’t right and it was still bothering him.

“He maybe came back too soon and wanted to play in the play-offs at the end of last season, but that probably didn’t help him because he was in a lot of pain.

“When he is on form he has the quality to win you games, and he has certainly shown that recently.

“I don’t think there is any doubt we missed that when he was suffering from his injury.

“He is a really special player and it’s important we keep him on the pitch,” he said.

“There has been a lot of hype about him – not from him – but all he wants to do is play football and do his talking on the park.

“He’s a good lad and if he can keep his form up he’ll be important to us keeping up there in the league,” added Durnan.

“Sometimes he needs a kick up the backside to work a bit harder but he’s definitely getting better at that with experience.

“He’s still a young lad so is learning about the game and is becoming more switched on about what to do when he doesn’t have the ball,” Durnan said.

“If you watch the highlights from recent games back you can see the amount of work he is putting in, whether it’s tracking back or pressing defenders high up the pitch.”

United head to Greenock with the spring back in their step after beating Dunfermline 2-1 at Tannadice last Saturday to become league leaders again.

Durnan confirmed: “The mood has been great after winning last weekend because we got the three points and results elsewhere meant we went to the top of the table.

“We had to grind it out in the end but that was pleasing to see.

“Skoosh (Fraser) scored two good goals before we gave away a sloppy penalty.

“But we saw the game out well, protected Harry Lewis in our goal and got the job done.”

The display against the Pars was full of composure, in contrast to the previous game at Brechin when they rushed their play and ended up only drawing.

Durnan added: “The manager has mentioned keeping cool heads and he has told us that he wants us to stay calm.

“I think we did that against Dunfermline.

“He has been trying to instil that in us,” he added.

“We are unbeaten in five (league) games and I think there are four wins in there so we are in good shape.”

The Tangerines have suffered an injury blow with the loss of captain Willo Flood to a dislocated shoulder.

The Irishman is set to miss not only the Morton match but also the remainder of this month’s fixtures programme against Queen of the South, Livingston and St Mirren.

Durnan said: “Losing Willo is obviously a blow because he has built a good partnership with Fraser Fyvie.

“He brings energy and experience to the team, which has been important,” he said.

“So it’s disappointing, and there is nothing you can do about it,” added Durnan.

“It is one of those freak injuries, and someone else will have to come in and press their claim.”