Harkes out to keep top-six dream alive with win over Celts

IT may not result in a happy home but Dundee United midfielder Ian Harkes is hoping they can get one over Celtic tomorrow, insisting they need three points to keep their top-six hopes alive.

Harkes’ fiancee, Sarah Teegarden, plays for the Hoops and hopes to be back in action soon herself after the Scottish government gave the women’s game the green light to return to the pitch.

Going up against the Premiership champion men’s team at Tannadice this weekend, the American seems sheepishly hopeful of Teegarden’s support.

After all, Harkes has been there for her in her darkest hour as she has missed football, not only because of the coronavirus, but also in recovering from a serious knee injury.

“It’s tough for her but I’d like to think she’d support me,” the 25-yearold laughed.

“It’s great having a footballer as a partner, we have a lot of similarities and we can talk through things and support each other through our careers because we know what the other one’s going through.

“It’s been tough for them to be out this long with stop-start action throughout the season so they’re happy to get somewhat of a green light.

“They need to figure out some of the details with testing and things like that but it’s definitely positive ahead.

“Her being out for a long time, she’s coming back from her ACL, just added to the length of how long the pandemic was and trying to get through that rehab.

“She’s very happy to have an end goal and better times ahead.

“We’ve seen how teams have got a few results against them this year and turned them over . . . we’re hoping to do the same.”

Focusing on their own challenges, Harkes believes they can take heart from the Celts’ last visit to the City of Discovery back in August where the Tangerines performed well in a 1-0 defeat.

It’s not been a vintage season for the Bhoys, sitting some distance behind champions-elect and fierce rivals Rangers at the top of the tree, but Harkes insists they still demand respect.

That said, the Terrors will be going all out for much-needed points if they are to catch St Mirren in sixth spot.

He added: “We can definitely take the positives from that game and look

Celtic’s Sarah Teegarden is the fiancee of Ian Harkes.

Adrian Sporle put United ahead at Kilmarnock last week.

Adrian Sporle (above) and Ian Harkes have become good friends.