| And, while at this stage the focus at Tannadice remains on patching together a team for Sunday’s home tie with St Mirren, with 11 players missing from training, any worsening of the situation could force the Tangerines to approach the SFA in a bid to get a postponement.
“That is not something I have thought about and, right now, I am trying to work out who can train, who might be OK for Sunday and who might not be,” said boss Craig Levein.
“None of the seven who missed training yesterday did any work today. Some of them came in and wanted to train, but the doc has given them antibiotics and we’ve sent them home.
“Hopefully, that means some of them will be OK tomorrow, but we’ve got Mark off as well, while Noel, Steven and Christian won’t be fit enough to play.
“That is not the ideal preparation for what is going to be a very difficult tie.
“It was a tough game when we beat St Mirren here in the league a few weeks ago and, although they lost on Monday, we had them watched and they battered Inverness for the last half-hour or so.”
The fitness concerns have heightened the need to add bodies to the squad. Craig was still working hard today to bring at least one of his targets in before Sunday, and Hartlepool striker Jon Daly has again been linked with a move north.
The gaffer, though, admitted it was not easy to finalise deals quickly at this time of the year.
“We are trying, but it is difficult because in this window you are dealing with players who are under contract and that slows everything up,” he added.
“Clubs know you need players, so they ask for more money and you get other hold ups. I really don’t like the January window and I do not see it as good for the game.”
It has been confirmed that skipper Barry Robson will miss the next three league games through suspension. |
