| The emphatic 3-0 win over Kilmarnock at Tannadice gave Ian, his players and the fans a timely boost and, he believes, if the events of last season are anything to go by, there is reason to feel his Tangerines can take that form to Parkhead.
“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. |
