That’s automatically ruled him out of Saturday’s trip to Falkirk, where Craig Samson will deputise. With just a month of the season to go, he could be struggling to feature again before next term.

Almost the only consolation for United boss Craig Brewster following yesterday’s drubbing from Rangers was that the defeat was not even heavier.

A Kris Boyd hat-trick helped the Champions’ League-chasing Ibrox men to a 4-1 win and Craig admitted that, on chances, things could have been worse.

While praising the standard of the opposition performance, however, he also made it clear his own team were a big disappointment.

“If you are asking me if there was any consolation it’s that it wasn’t even worse. Rangers played very well, but I don’t think there was anyone in our team who can say they reached their best levels and when that happens against the Old Firm you are in trouble,” he said.

As well as his team’s display, the Tangerines’ gaffer admitted he was unhappy with the Tannadice pitch. It had to be heavily sanded to get the previous game against Kilmarnock on after rain threatened a postponement and, by yesterday, eight days later, it still had not recovered.

The surface will be in use again tomorrow when Rangers reserves visit for a game that should see Paul Ritchie back for the first time since suffering a dead leg in January.

Grant Brebner, suspended for the last two games and injured before that, can also play and should make his return to the first team at Falkirk.