McInnes: United can get back to top flight

Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes feels Dundee United have got what it takes to make a return to the Premiership.

The sides square up in the Scottish Cup for the first time since United dropped out of the top flight in 2016.

A lack of continuity at the club will not have helped their cause according to McInnes, who spent three seasons at Tannadice as a player. Since Jackie McNamara left in September 2015, United have gone through Mixu Paatelainen, Ray McKinnon and now Csaba Laszlo, as well as having three different caretaker managers.

McNamara saw Gary MackaySteven, Nadir Ciftci and Stuart Armstrong leave for Celtic in 2015 after contesting the 2014 cup final and the following season United were relegated for the first time in 20 years.

McInnes said: “I just think that sometimes there’s been a lot of changes of managers and every change of manager needs a change of squad, a change of personnel.

“Dozens and dozens of players have gone through the doors in the last few years. You don’t really get that continuity.

“They’ve got a brilliant set-up. They’ll have the biggest budget in their own league, they’ve got fantastic training facilities and they’ve got good players. So they’ve also got a lot going for them.

“I’m pretty sure that if they don’t get it done this year, they’ve got the manager there and squad there that’ll maybe get them up.

“It just shows you, it’s all about results. It’s not about what you’ve done as a club.

“This club was similar, to be honest. “It’s the players and the staff within the club that have to set the pace. They’re the ones that bring success. It’s not the club and the name of the club that brings success.

“Having played there and known the ins and outs of the club and what it means to the supporters, I’m sure it’ll be pivotal in their minds to get back up.

“It’s not always just about good players and a good manager, it’s got to be a huge collective effort for any team to have success. I’m pretty sure United will get there in time.”

Stevie May is available after an ankle injury but Joe Lewis remains out.

Derek McInnes: continuity is key.