“In terms of the way we’ve been playing, over 90 minutes we have to do better and we need to start picking up points, but I believe in football it is important you are still enthusiastic and enjoying your work.

“When I have a game against Aberdeen to look forward to, I can definitely do that because, in terms of atmosphere, these games are usually better even than when we player Rangers or Celtic at Dens.

“Aberdeen bring a big support and they’ll make a lot of noise. On the park, it’s always a tough game and, with the way they’ve been playing this season, it will not be any different tomorrow.”

While Dundee have struggled, under Jimmy Calderwood the Dons have soared to third in the league. That, and statistics which show this is a fixture that normally favours the away team, would suggest the three points will be heading to the Granite City. The home manager, though, has warned his men will fight all the way.

“Sometimes, for whatever reason, you get a fixture where results go a certain way, whatever the era and whoever the managers are. This is one of them.

“It’s been the case that we have a good record at Pittodrie and Aberdeen have a good record down here — that’s maybe part of the reason why the atmosphere is so good, because you usually have big away supports.

“We still think we can take something and that’s what we will be looking to do. Although we basically lost the game in the first five minutes at Rangers last week, the players showed character in not folding after that and even created a few chances.

“In fact, at 2-0 down we were playing well, had two chances inside the six-yard box and one around the penalty spot, so we could still have been in the game.

“Our problem was our concentration and that’s been the story of our season. Too often we’ve played well for part of games and then lost bad goals. That’s something we must improve on.”

Still out tomorrow are the injured Iain Anderson, Tom Hutchinson and Kelvin Jack, though the Trinidad goalkeeper might get a closed-door game next week.

Mark Fotheringham could play after recovering from the virus that forced him to miss out at Ibrox.

Ryan Esson will play in goal for the Dons as David Preece is suspended.

“On our last two visits there, we have lost two very close games 2-1 and played well. That means I know we are capable of giving a good account of ourselves again tomorrow,” he said.

“Both times we only lost to late goals and I am looking for another good performance this time. Even without the memory of those games, a trip to Glasgow to play a good team in front of a big crowd is something you always look forward to.”

With no fresh injuries to concern him and, given the nature of that Killie victory — United felt they could have had a couple more goals in a one-sided second half — it will be no surprise if the same starting XI. get the nod again.

Top scorer Jim McIntyre and centre-half Chris Innes both spent a couple of days training with the physio at the start of the week because of knocks that have been troubling them for a few weeks.

However, they’ve joined in with the rest of the squad for the past couple of days and will both be in the line-up.

James Grady, an unused sub against Killie, has had a problem with a poisoned leg, but he, too, should be ready in time to take a seat on the bench.

Celtic will be minus on-loan attacker Henri Camara after his visit to the SFA earlier in the week and subsequent one-match ban for stepping out of line during the stormy Old Firm battle at Ibrox last month.

Back at Tannadice, it looks like being next week before United will know whether or not defender Paul Ritchie will pledge his long-term future to the club.

Ritchie, whose short-term contract runs out next month, held talks about his situation yesterday and was meeting McCall again today.

With preparations for the Celtic game now taking priority, it will be another few days yet before fans know whether or not their team will be hanging on to the in-form stopper.

Mark Baxter is out with a groin injury and, although Paul Bernard made his comeback from injury in the home reserve win over Forfar in midweek, he won’t be considered tomorrow.

Long-term injury victim Kevin Fotheringham won’t make his return until the New Year.

However, several of the Stars players have stepped in to, hopefully, coach the team to a double victory this weekend.

Stars are away to Edinburgh Capitals in the league tomorrow, before a huge game at Dundee Ice Arena against tabletoppers Bracknell Bees in the Challenge Cup 24 hours later (face-off 6.30 pm).

Stars player Andy Samuel will act as coach against Capitals, but Scottish National League commitments mean he has to play at Kirkcaldy on Sunday, so captain Jason Shmyr will take over the running of the bench against Bees.

Meanwhile, although the coach will be absent, he remained upbeat about his team’s prospects for the weekend.

He said, “I’m delighted the way the team has been playing over the last couple of weeks.

“We’ve had a nice run of victories recently, but Edinburgh Capitals will be tough opposition, particularly at their own rink.

“Still, we’re all very confident we can pick up a couple of points.

“We’ve got a huge game against Bracknell on Sunday. The guys are going to have to be at their best. Bracknell are one of the best teams in Britain.”

Defenceman Cristiano Borgatello is still out injured.