United boss will better luck after

DUNDEE United dropped out of the top six for the first time in five months after defeat at home to Hibs on Boxing Day, despite a stunning strike from Declan Glass.

It was United’s fifth straight defeat and they have now won just once in their last 10 games to end the year on a low.

The recent outlook has been bleak for Tam Courts’ Covid-hit squad, but there are some positive changes afoot that could transform their fortunes after the winter break.

Tele Sport was at Tannadice for the Hibernian loss and here are three talking points from that game:

Injury and illness hit Dundee

United hard v Hibernian

United boss Courts is often Mr Positivity.

He’s always happy to wax lyrical about the strengths and qualities of his players and fully endorses United’s youth policy, but for almost the first time in his sixmonth reign, Courts bemoaned the poor recent luck his side have suffered with regards to injury and illness.

Since September, United have had 14 players sidelined at various points.

Any side would struggle to cope with having the heart of the team ripped out of it.

Players such as Benjamin Siegrist, Marc McNulty, Dylan Levitt, Jeando Fuchs and Charlie Mulgrew are all key members of the Tannadice first team.

All of them are among a lengthy list of performers who have endured spells on the sidelines.

Covid struck the United camp recently too, sidelining eight players.

So Courts will be happy to get to the winter break for some rest and recovery before the season kicks off again at home to St Mirren on January 18.

Deadly Declan Glass

There wasn’t much to smile about from Sunday’s loss to Hibs but Declan Glass has every right to feel proud of his first United league goal.

If you haven’t yet seen it then make sure you watch the highlights. It’s a thing of beauty.

Glass picked the ball up inside the Hibs half before drifting past several defenders and placing his strike beyond Matt Macey.

On another day Glass would have, rightly, cruised off the pitch with a beaming smile on his face.

Tam Courts has not had his problems to seek recently. Dundee United have been without the services of tenacious midfielder