Having stayed in touch with a few of the players who have come through the ranks at Easter Road, however, Proctor is well aware results have not been an accurate reflection of performances.

“One thing I know from my time with Hibs, is that, however games finish, they will always play good football and that will be the case when they come here on Sunday.

“They can be sensational for parts of games and then there’s a lull for a while, but you always know they are dangerous and you can never lose your concentration.

“I’m still quite friendly with boys like Scott Brown and Kevin Thomson, and they’ve been saying they are playing well.”

Proctor’s reply to that has been to let them know United have hit form and he has set his sights on following up an emphatic victory at high-flying St Mirren a fortnight ago with another three points.

“We have not conceded many goals in the last four games or so and we will be looking to continue that. We’ll try to make it as difficult as we can for Hibs and also hope to open something up going the other way.”

Sunday marks the start of an interesting few days for the 22-year-old and tomorrow week sees him head north to face his other previous employers.

“It’s going to be nice for me, because we have Inverness as well. I think I’ll get more stick up there, because the fans will remember me better than the Hibs fans do.

“It’ll be interesting, but that’s a side issue because it could be a good week for the team and it’s a chance for us to pick up a few points.”

Definitely missing out on Sunday will be banned skipper Barry Robson, while likely deputy Steven Robb is not expected to recover from an ankle injury in time. Noel Hunt, though, will be fit to start after only making the bench for the St Mirren win and that could see Collin Samuel switch to the left, a position he plays in for Trinidad, as emergency cover for Robson.

Boss Craig Brewster proved his fitness in the reserve draw at Dunfermline on Tuesday and is likely to be among the substitutes.

Now he has secured his release from Corsicans Bastia, United will welcome back Congolese international Franck Matingou next week. He’ll play in a reserve game and, if he impresses in the way he did in training last month, is set to be offered a deal.

Meanwhile, in a move that will see him struck off a few lower division clubs’ Christmas card list, chairman Eddie Thompson has challenged the jurisdiction of the SFL panel that met yesterday to determine what fee should go to Ayr United for wide man Craig Conway. The matter has now been deferred until the SFA give a ruling.

United’s game kicks off at 2 pm on Sunday.