The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
McKinnon expects big reaction from United against Inverness
Midfielder suffers no reaction after return from foot injury lay-off
Dundee United boss Ray McKinnon has revealed that Scott Fraser has not suffered any reaction since returning to training earlier this week and the midfielder could even be in the squad to face Inverness at Tannadice on Saturday.
The 22-year-old has endured a frustrating and painful start to the season, plagued by problems from a previous foot operation because of a screw scraping against a bone.
He has not featured since the game against Dumbarton on September 9 but now after a period of rest, he is ready to go again.
McKinnon said: “Scotty Fraser is back training. He isn’t fit to play as he has missed an awful lot. But it is good to have him back and he hasn’t had much reaction.
“There is a little ache but nothing like he has had before. Hopefully he will be ready to go again maybe for the St Mirren game. We will maybe try to get a game for him next week but he will be in the squad for Saturday.
“He isn’t complaining about a sore foot any more so hopefully that is him over it and he can really kick on now for the season.”
However, Jordie Briels, who limped off before half-time during Saturday’s defeat at Livingston with a hip problem, is rated doubtful for the ICT game.
McKinnon added: “Jordie has had a couple of injections in both hips. He is struggling and is 50/50 for Saturday.
“It is a bit like tennis elbow in the hips and it has just come on him in the last six weeks or so. We have been trying to manage it but hopefully the injections will settle the inflammation down.
“Paul Quinn played the other night and he is available for the squad. Everybody else is all right.”
That 2-0 defeat at the Tony Macaroni Stadium at the weekend was doubly disappointing considering how well United had done in their previous Championship game by beating highflying Dunfermline at East End Park before the international break.
McKinnon admitted that is was incredibly frustrating to go from the high against the Pars to the Livingston low however he is expecting a big reaction against Caley.
He said: “I think those are the extremes of emotions everyone is feeling.
“One week we were up there against Dunfermline . . .
“But credit to Livi. The first half they worked hard and got a very lucky break with the goal. In the second half we played really well and had them penned in only to get caught with a sucker punch.
“But in that period, we needed to score. We had chances but we never took them.
“So it probably feels a lot worse than it actually was. We need to ensure we are focused this week and right back at it.
“I think Saturday was just a wee bump in the road. It is a reminder that you have to be at it for 90 minutes and can’t give away a cheap goal in this league.
“We went through things at the start of the week and we will be expecting a reaction – absolutely. The boys are really motivated. They were very disappointed against Livingston so they are raring to go this Saturday.”
Inverness may be second bottom of the Championship table but McKinnon is expecting a tough test against a side who have kept clean sheets in their last three games.
The manager added: “We are at home where we have done well this season.
“The lads like playing at Tannadice so we are determined to win the game on Saturday. They have had three clean sheets in a row and they will have (former United defender) Coll Donaldson coming back with a point to prove.
“It will be a tough game as they are hitting a bit of form. But if we have everybody bang at it, then we had a good chance of winning.”