He reported for work as normal and then headed off for the usual Thursday morning training session as preparations for the vital meeting with the Pars neared their completion.

It was a big session for two players, Grant Brebner and Peter Canero, who needed to prove their fitness if they are to be involved this weekend.

Canero made a rapid recovery from knee surgery last month to make the bench against Livingston last week, but hopes he would be a starter this time out have been hit by the postponement of Tuesday’s reserve game against Celtic and a bout of sickness that has sidelined him for a couple of days. For Brebner, who has now been out with calf trouble for over a month, it is a case of whether or not he will be fit to make the bench.

Both will be left overnight to see if they suffer any reaction to stepping up their workload and a decision on their involvement will be taken tomorrow.

Dundee United’s youngsters will meet Rangers at Tannadice on Sunday in the fourth round of the SFA Youth Cup (KO 1 pm).

Meanwhile, January fixture clashes that almost led to a verbal spat between the city rivals should be avoided with both sides ending up satisfied.

Final confirmation should come through in the next 24 hours or so, but United are now set to face Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup at Tannadice on Saturday, January 7, as drawn, while Dundee will play host to Stranraer the following afternoon.

The next weekend, the Dark Blues’ First Division clash with Ross County will go ahead on the Saturday, while the Tangerines’ SPL date with Falkirk will be delayed to the Sunday.

“The players I went to see were not up to the standard I want, but one or two others were decent and I will be speaking to managers about them, though it is obviously early days right now,” he said on his return to Dens Park today.

He also has other irons in the fire with January in mind, but it may be a week or two into the window before he is ready to bolster his squad.

And the door at Dens might be opening in both directions with a couple of players who have not been featuring regularly being given the chance to leave.

Alan, however, has made it clear he would not welcome overtures from any clubs keen to snap up the kids who have flourished at first-team level since his arrival.

The likes of Kevin McDonald, Craig O’Reilly and Paul Dixon have been starring in recent weeks and the plan is for them to continue as Dark Blues for some time to come.

“To be honest, I have not checked to see if there has been an increase in the number of scouts who come to watch us, but it’s always likely when you have young players doing well,” he added.

“From my point of view, players like Kevin McDonald are ones you build a team around and I want them to be here and part of my plans.”

On the fitness front, Tam McManus looks highly unlikely to be fit for the trip to Dumfries to face Queen of the South on Saturday, while Garry Brady will have to prove in training that he has recovered from his bout of flu.

Meanwhile, Dundee are in line for a boost via fans being given the chance to make a difference to club finances by restructuring their own savings.

The Dens men are the latest Scottish club to sign up with the new Soccer Savings scheme, which aims to provide a significant cash injection for youth development across the country.

The Dundee Soccersaver account for adults and children is provided by the Dunfermline Building Society and there is also a business account being provided by Cater Allen Private Bank, part of the Abbey National group.

By opening such an account the fans can help steer cash in the direction of their favourite club.