MIKKELSEN:

Players will cope with games.

Dundee United frontman Thomas Mikkelsen insists the players will be able to deal with their fixture pile-up.

United travel to Glebe Park to face Brechin City today, a match that kicks off a congested schedule of 13 matches in just seven weeks.

The latest game to fall foul of the weather was last Tuesday’s home tie against Queen of the South, with the Tannadice pitch waterlogged.

Places have subsequently been found for that tie and the outstanding home tie against runaway Championship leaders St Mirren, which will now go ahead on April 10.

That means it will be Saturday-Tuesday for the foreseeable future, but the Dane is sure United will manage.

Mikkelsen said: “The next few months will be very busy but we have a squad of players so we will just have to cope with it.

“It will mean we don’t do much training but as players you just want to be playing games anyway so it’s no problem.

“It will be tough mentally and physically but we can handle it.

“It won’t be too different to the playoffs last season, but obviously for a much longer time this time around.

“We will get used to it, so if we end up in the play-offs then it might be a plus for us because we will be used to it.

“I don’t see it as too much of a problem and I would even say we are looking forward to it. It is a case of believing you can do it, because if you think you can then you will handle it.

“We have players coming back from injury and Scott Fraser will be fit again soon as well, so that will help us.”

As a Dane, Mikkelsen is no stranger to snow but he thinks Scottish football would benefit from closing down over the winter months.

He added: “Should Scottish football move to a summer season? I think that would maybe be a good idea.

“It would be better to play in the summer but the weather isn’t the best most of the year round so it’s hard to predict.

“But when you get snow like we have had recently then it’s very difficult to play games.”

Mikkelsen is on loan at United from Ross County, who have just parted company with manager Owen Coyle.

You got the impression that was a decision the striker wasn’t too unhappy about, but he won’t be thinking about relegation-threatened Staggies for now.

“I have enjoyed coming back here,” he said.

“I have another year on my contract at Ross County but right now I am only focused on United.

“I want to help this team and the club back to the Premiership.

“We have to win most of our matches if we are going to win the title.

“It would have to be something like 10 out of the 13 that are left.

“If we did that then we would have a chance of being the champions but right now all we can do is win this weekend and hope to build up some momentum.

“It is going to be tough but we have to aim for it because it’s still possible.

“The best way for us to approach things is to take the games one at a time.

“St Mirren are far away at the moment but anything can happen in football.”

He added: “Even if we can’t make it past St Mirren, finishing second is important because you play two games fewer in the play-offs.”