REYNOLDS COOLS TALK OF GRUDGE MATCH

MARK REYNOLDS doesn’t buy into talk that today’s meeting between Rangers and Dundee United is a grudge match. The Tannadice captain shrugs aside suggestions that the feuding either side of the Ibrox club’s bitter liquidation in 2012 still simmers in 2020. But the 33-year-old is respectful of the sporting rivalry that exists on the pitch between the two clubs. And he believes Scottish football is all the better for having the historic foes reunited again after their respective misadventures outwith the top flight. While no fans will be inside Ibrox to see today’s first league meeting of the sides in eight years, Reynolds expects a typically full-blooded affair. Asked about the dredging up of bad blood, he said: ‘As a club, we just get on with business and ignore what’s happening outwith the walls of our changing room. ‘There are things we can influence and things we can’t and, if you look outside for a spark before a match, you can sometimes struggle because it’s not going to be there for certain games. ‘We respect there is a rivalry but the only way we can represent the club is by giving a good showing on the pitch. All we can really influence is how we play. ‘But it’s good to have the fixture back. You want your big teams, teams with history, in the top flight. ‘Certainly, Rangers, Celtic and Aberdeen are huge games that the fans are desperate to see. ‘There’s a lot riding on it but we’re looking forward to testing ourselves against a good Rangers team. ‘The fans are huge at any level of football, but especially when you’re playing at Ibrox or Parkhead and there are 60,000 passionate supporters right behind their team. ‘We’ll miss that but it will still be a huge game and as intense as it would be if there was a crowd.’ United welcome star striker Lawrence Shankland back from injury today as they look to bounce back from a 4-0 loss at Kilmarnock in their last match. Reynolds (left) is adamant the defeat was not as heavy as the scoreline suggests. ‘If you saw the game and the stats it was a different story,’ he said. ‘The hardest thing in football is scoring goals and it’s just about us getting used to playing at this level and realising a half-chance is maybe as good as you’ll get. We need to be a bit more clinical. ‘We need to work harder to convert our opportunities but we’re still learning. When Lawrence is back in the team, we’ll have a greater goal threat.’ Meanwhile, United boss Micky Mellon has rewarded Florent Hoti with a two-year deal after the midfielder impressed on trial. The 19-year-old Kosovan has spent the last few weeks at Tannadice and has now clinched a permanent switch from Rochdale for an undisclosed fee. Hoti said: ‘I am delighted to get the deal done. It’s been a long time coming given I’ve been here before on trial. I’m buzzing to play for such a big club with the history and fans it has. ‘There are great facilities here and, as a young player, I’m here to develop. It’s a great platform for me to continue my growth as a player.’