“Canero hasn’t trained with the full squad yet due to the freezing temperatures and he, too, won’t be involved. However, Lee Miller, Barry Robson and Mark Kerr have returned from their involvement with the Scotland Future squad, and they are all fit and ready to play.”

The Tannadice boss is expecting a tough time from the Lions, despite their bottom-of-the-table status.

“We have had them watched and they were apparently unlucky to lose against Hearts at the weekend,” he added. “They are fighting for their lives just now, so will be difficult opponents.”

Gordon welcomed the milder climate today, adding, “It looks as if we will definitely train on grass today. It’s really important, especially just before a game, that we work out on grass.”

Meanwhile, central defender David McCracken, a star performer in last week’s win over high-flying Hibs, is playing with more confidence than at the start of the season.

“I now feel more consistent, and it’s all down to getting a run in the first team,” he said.

“In the past, it seemed that I would play well in one game, not so good in another, then be dropped. The manager has stuck by me this term and we’ve had a fairly settled defence.

“We have been under a bit of pressure, but, hopefully, that has eased a bit. If we can get six points from the next two games (Dunfermline are at Tannadice a week tomorrow), then we’d be right in there fighting for a top-six place with Aberdeen, Motherwell and Inverness.”

“First of all, we’re not thinking of losing tomorrow and, secondly, we’re working hard at getting new players in at the January window,” he said.

“We have identified a list of players who could be available, and we are pursuing that line.”

A decent-sized crowd is expected at Dens tomorrow, and the manager added, “The support has been great this season and has held up really well.

“We’ve not given them much to shout about, but I can see that changing.

“It will obviously be a hard game tomorrow, but one we are capable of winning.

“St Mirren are probably the opposite to us in as much as they’ve managed to carve out wins, whereas we’ve had far too many draws.

“When they played at Stranraer, they grabbed a late winner, while we were unfortunate to see Steven Robb’s late goal chalked off for offside last week.

“They’ve been very consistent, which is something you’ve got to admire.

“They’ve built up a momentum since Gus MacPherson took over as manager.

“But we beat them first game of the season here, so we’ll looking to do the same again tomorrow.”

Club captain Barry Smith, who was nursing a slight knock, trained and will be OK.

Tam McManus (groin injury) is rated as doubtful, while goalkeeper Derek Soutar will again not feature (knee injury), but he could be back in action over the festive period. Soutar said, “I have still to see the surgeon for an update, but the feeling is that I could be ready to play again just after Christmas.”

Meanwhile, former Dundee boss Jim Duffy has emerged as a shock candidate to take charge of Australian side Perth Glory.

Duffy parted company with the Dens Park side earlier this season after their bid to get promoted back to the SPL got off to a poor start.

Now he is in the frame to replace ex-Liverpool star Steve McMahon, who resigned from the Perth job this week.

Duffy, who has also managed Hibs, is expected to be interviewed next week.

Former Dundee United team boss Ian McCall is in charge at QOS and he’ll meet up again with Owen tomorrow, the pair of them being well acquainted.

But Owen is looking to put one over Ian and, with his players again having no day off this week, Owen will be looking for a repeat of the form that saw Saints win 4-1 away to Brechin City last Saturday.

Goran Stanic may be restored to the left-back berth after missing the Brechin match due to a groin injury, but that is likely to be Saints’ only change.

With leaders St Mirren to be faced at Paisley a week tomorrow, it’s imperative that Saints keep the pressure on the Buddies — and that’s what they are endeavouring to do tomorrow.

Brechin will need all the resilience they can muster if they are to survive into the New Year with a hope of avoiding relegation.

They welcome fourth-top Hamilton Accies with manager Ian Campbell still looking for his first league win after 17 matches, but he believes his players can still turn round their season.

The injury list that has plagued selection is diminishing with Steve Ferguson and Alex Burns back in contention, leaving only Steve Hampshire on the sidelines with a foot injury.

Among the selection options Campbell is pondering is whether John Hillcoat should retain his place after he stepped in for the suspended Craig Nelson.

City lost heavily to St Johnstone last week, but in the three previous matches they had showed the kind of commitment that hinted at a happier second half to the season. That spirit has to be rediscovered quickly.