The 25-year-old, who has signed until the end of the season, knows the First Division well from his time in the Borders and that was a key factor in him being brought in.

“I don’t want to keep harping on about it, but we do need more experience and Derek brings that. When we get people back fit it means the average age of the team will be upped a bit and we might even have experience on the bench as well,” said Alex.

Extra experience will also come in the shape of the gaffer himself returning after sitting out Tuesday’s Challenge Cup exit at Forfar.

He is fit and was keen to play down the effects of the virus that hit him just prior to the opening league game against Partick Thistle and has been lingering in his system since.

“If I could have, I would have pulled myself out a couple of weeks ago, but, with the injuries we’ve had it has not been possible. These things happen and you just have to get on with it, there’s no point in complaining.”

And, despite defeats in all four competitive fixtures so far, Alex was remaining in upbeat mood and focusing on his long-term aim of rebuilding a successful Dundee side.

“When we get our strongest team out we can make an impact and that’s what we are working towards. Sunday gives us another chance to get that first win and that’s what we will be aiming for.”

Keeper Ludovic Roy stepped up his training today, but it remains touch and go whether or not he will be ready after the rib injury suffered on the opening day.

Centre-half Gary McKenzie is unlikely to recover from a calf injury and is set to remain on the injury list alongside skipper Bobby Mann and striker Andy McLaren.

Sunday’s game kicks off at 3 pm.

He was top man in the draw at Rangers a fortnight ago and might have been heading for a similar accolade at Rugby Park until Miller’s early bath saw him sacrificed for Noel Hunt up front. That exit was frustrating, but a move the 24-year-old accepted.

“You never want to come off, but there was only about five minutes to half-time and, as soon as I saw the referee raise the card, I guessed I would probably be off at the break,” he said.

“Lee was our only striker and that’s one position I don’t play, so Noel had to come on and I was the obvious choice — if you have to take one for the team, you do.”

Until then, he was enjoying playing in “the hole” and, while he has arguably been a victim of his own versatility in the past, this is one switch he’s happy to make.

“I’ve never played that far forward for United, but, so far, it has been good and it has worked well. When I’ve played teams using someone in the role, it’s been difficult to pick them up and it’s been working that way for us. When the manager said he wanted to try me there, I thought about how the likes of Russell Latapy and Thomas Buffel have gone about it against us and, so far, it’s worked well.”

The one nagging doubt he’s had — ‘will the system be deployed in home games?’ — will be answered when the team is named tomorrow, and Duff sees no reason why it shouldn’t be.

“I does go through your mind that we might go with two strikers, but you hope you’ve done enough to keep your place. The way the back four and midfield have been playing in the last couple of games, we have not looked like conceding much and we’ve also got bodies forward.

“We were doing that at Killie when it was 11 against 11 and we thought we were heading for a win. That’s what we are looking for now — we are feeling good as a group and we’re getting better and better, so now’s the time to win.”

And, while two away draws have lifted spirits, he feels tomorrow is the perfect chance to repair the damage done by the opening-day defeat against Falkirk.

“We want a successful season, but we don’t want it based on away form alone. We need to be at least as good at home and give the fans something to shout about. We let them down against Falkirk, but we have moved on and want to show it.”

Missing for United tomorrow will be Lee Mair, who picked up a knee knock in training, while the manager (shoulder) and Lee Miller (suspended) are also out.

Heading home from Tannadice today was Czech trialist Marcel Licka, but interest in the 25-year-old midfielder is not dead. Zambian international Chris Katonga has also caught the manager’s eye, but, with two years of his contract at South Africans Jomo Cosmos still to run, any move could prove more difficult.

Meanwhile, for Dunfermline tomorrow, only long-term absentees, including ex-United man Jim McIntyre, are still missing. All those who earned a creditable draw against Rangers on Sunday are available.

“The boys did well against Rangers and we go to Tannadice with confidence. It’s always hard there, but we are looking forward to it,” said boss Jim Leishman.

Also missing is teenage forward Steven Doris, who suffered a leg knock against Raith which isn’t as bad as was feared.

“All of the others left out against Raith are back in contention,” said Owen.

“We had Hamilton watched against Dundee last Saturday and are expecting a tough game. But there are three points to be won and we aim to get them.”

Left-back Goran Stanic was one of the players rested in midweek, but the former Macedonian internationalist has started the season well and is expected to regain his left-back slot.