As things stand, “The Monk” will play his last game for the Tangerines at Motherwell on Saturday, because he does not want to stand in the way of close friend Lukasz Zaluska’s top-team opportunities.

He only signed as cover when his fellow-Pole broke a foot in the summer, but, with his mate’s fitness problems lingering, United want him to stay on for a few more weeks at least.

And, while he’ll take nothing for granted until the ink on a new deal is dry, boss Craig Levein is hopeful Szamotulski will be hanging on.

“I’ve spoken to him and I know he is at least seriously considering it. If he signs, it would be a big help to us and to Lukasz,” said Craig.

“I respect his reasons for saying he would not stay on when Lukasz was fit, but the simple fact is Lukasz is nowhere near ready to play for our first team.

“He has only had one closed-door game since he recovered from his latest problem and, with no reserve games for a few weeks, there is not much chance of more games for a while.

“That’s not really a problem, because, after being out for so long, he needs an extended period of hard training to get him fully fit again, so Szamotulski would not be holding him back.”

While he was not prepared to reveal any names yet, Craig did confirm agreement has been reached with a striker and a left-back — Dundee’s Paul Dixon has been linked — who will sign once the transfer window opens on Tuesday.

Also officially becoming a United player that day will be Berwick Rangers midfielder Danny Swanson. He has already be training with the squad three days a week and is likely to be on the bench against Hearts.

“I will have Danny and another two added next week, and that will boost the numbers,” added Craig.

“It is important we get another striker and you just have to look at how we’ve struggled for cover when either Christian Kalvenes or Sean Dillon have been out to see that we needed a full-back.”

Craig also took time today to stress that, despite a run of four defeats in the last five games, his belief in his players has not wavered.

“At some point, every team has a sticky spell and we are no different. I feel there have been reasons for ours and, while there has been the odd bad performance, there have been other factors.

“Yesterday, I was disappointed because we conceded from set-pieces, which just is not us, but, over the 90 minutes, we competed well with Celtic and there was not a great deal between the teams.”

The former Doonhamer could now be facing as many as five games in the sin bin and, while he has defended him in the past, this time the gaffer admitted it had been a costly mistake.

“You can’t do what he did and, looking back at the game, I would say that with 11 men we would not have lost,” said Alex.

“We have a code of conduct here that is clear and it will be applied, but what everyone has to realise is that, with such a small squad, we cannot afford to be losing players needlessly.

“Derek misses Partick on Saturday automatically, so Danny Griffin will be back on the bench. If someone else misses out — and we are assessing a few knocks from yesterday — then it is down to using the kids, that’s how tight things are.

“That shows we cannot afford to lose people, particularly when games are coming thick and fast like they are now.”

It is also why the manager would like to add to his squad in the transfer window, though whether or not he does that depends on available cash.

One player unlikely to be staying on is full-back Eddie Malone. He has three games of his loan spell from St Mirren left and is expected to head back to Love Street after the clash with Dunfermline on Saturday week.

“Right now, it looks like they want him back. That’s a blow, because he has done very well and we would have liked to keep him for longer, “ added Alex.

“A bit like Lyle’s ban, that’s just the way it is and we will get on with working with what we have instead of talking about what might be.”

He had it strapped at half-time, but was taken off within minutes of the second half starting.

Martin Hardie, out for several months due to a groin injury which necessitated an operation, is nearing full fitness, but is still a few weeks away from making a comeback.