But Wilkie has gradually shown signs of improvement and is now fit enough to do some running.

However, boss Jim Duffy is taking a cautious approach with the 23-year-old and won’t set any hasty deadlines for a return. “Lee is making solid progress, but we’ve got to make sure he doesn’t suffer any hiccups,” said Jim today. “He’s started doing some straight running and, hopefully, he’ll be back soon, but we won’t be setting him any targets.”

That rules out any prospect of Wilkie being part of the side that will travel to Kilmarnock at the weekend and, with no game the following week due to Celtic’s involvement in the Scottish Cup, the earliest possibility of a return will be the home game against Aberdeen on March 13, although even that may come too soon.

Meanwhile, Wilkie’s fellow-central defender Brent Sancho, who has been suffering from a groin strain, had been pencilled in to take part in this afternoon’s U/21 game against Dunfermline at Dens. However, plummeting overnight temperatures left the surface frozen in parts and the game had to be cancelled.

Graham Rix will return to Dens next week for a second coaching stint. Rix was at the club last month as part of his work towards attaining a UEFA licence.

After losing a bit of weight, Dundee United striker Collin Samuel is now beginning to show signs of the form that persuaded manager Ian McCall to sign him from Falkirk.

“Collin is now close to the weight he was when he first arrived in Scotland and was lightning quick,” said Ian. Hopefully, he’ll maintain this progress and become the player I know he could be for us. He did well against Hearts on Saturday and is now looking more like his old self.”

Samuel’s improvement in form could be bad news for Andy McLaren, who is free from suspension for Sunday’s visit of Rangers to Tannadice, but may have to settle for a place on the bench.

The Tangerines are hopeful that injured trio Charlie Miller, Mark Wilson and Barry Robson will all be fit to face Alex McLeish’s men.