| The former Dundee man has not played since damaging knee ligaments in training back in February, just a few weeks after joining up from Stockport.
He was expected to be fit for the start of this term, but has been feeling the injury in the last couple of weeks and that led to a return to see a specialist last night.
It’s a visit that brought the worst possible news. He has been told to rest and it will now be the end of October, possibly longer, before the stylish centre-half is ready to resume playing.
“From my point of view, it is the worst possible news and at the end of the three months we will just have to see how he is. I feel for Lee and he is understandably very disappointed,” said manager Gordon Chisholm today.
The big concern is that Mair’s knee is still not right after this latest period of rest and he requires surgery. That would see what was initially expected to be a four-month absence stretched to a year or more.
United, though, will continue to be guided by medical advice and that means another long and frustrating period on the sidelines for a player who has hardly been seen in Tangerine.
Meanwhile, it now looks like ex-Kilmarnock goalkeeper Craig Samson will be handed the chance to challenge Derek Stillie for the top-team place.
Samson was on trial earlier this month, but left last week to purse other options while United had a look at ex-Arsenal man Rami Shaaban.
While the Swede was playing in the City of Discovery Cup last weekend, Gordon had Samson watched when he turned out for Airdrie against Alloa and although young Newcastle man Adam Bartlett has also been training at Tannadice, it’s the Scot who will get the nod.
He travelled back to Dundee today for training and is set to sign a contract before tomorrow’s deadline for the UEFA Cup, the draw for which takes place in Switzerland in the afternoon.
On Saturday, United’s first-ever official DVD will be on sale in the club shop. Priced at £12.99, “European Glory Goals” includes over 60 goals from 22 games at Tannadice and abroad. Club legend Hamish McAlpine introduces the action, which starts with rare never- seen-before footage from 1975.
Tickets for the game against Celtic at Parkhead on Saturday week are now on sale to season ticket holders and go on general sale from Saturday.
They can be obtained from the ticket office in Tannadice Street or by calling (01382) 833166 (option 1) with credit/debit card to hand. |
