UNITED FACE FAMILIAR FOE IN GUNNING
DEFENDER Gavin Gunning will tonight take the field against his old Dundee United team-mates for the first time since being acrimoniously released by the Tayside club last season. Gunning is in line to start tonight’s Betfred Cup quarter-final at Cappielow after making his Morton debut in Saturday’s victory over Dunfermline. The Irish defender had been without a club since departing United following a defeat by Inverness Caley Thistle last April. Gunning picked up the ball during play and walked off the pitch as the club slumped towards relegation from the Premiership. The 25-year-old returned to the field to receive treatment for an injury before being substituted and it was claimed he had sarcastically applauded fans who booed him for his conduct. Gunning signed for Morton after an unsuccessful trial at Inverness and United defender Paul Dixon knows his former team-mate will not lack motivation as he faces his old club tonight. He added: ‘They have brought in Gavin Gunning, whom we all know well, and he will be keen to get one over on United after what happened in the past. ‘Gavin is a good defender and I’m sure he will shore up their backline, so it will be tough. We have to go there fully focused and make sure we are strong, both mentally and physically.’ Dixon, meanwhile, admits he will forever be indebted to Morton coach Jim Duffy, who gave him his break in football when they were both at Dundee back in 2005. The 29-year-old Dundee United full-back admits Duffy made a big impression on him and still rates the Ton manager highly. Dixon, though, is desperate to lead Ray McKinnon’s men into the semi-final and hopes to come back and haunt his old manager. Dixon said: ‘Jim Duffy gave me my first professional contract, so I know him really well. ‘I have a lot of respect for him and appreciation towards him because he was the one who gave me my big break at Dundee. That was my start in the game at first-team level. ‘Unfortunately, I think it was only three games into my first season that he was sacked, so I didn’t get that long a time to work with him. ‘However, I know that he has been in the game a long, long time as player and manager and is respected by a lot of people. ‘He is highly regarded in Scottish football and will be setting his team up to be difficult for us to beat.’