“From travelling away to places like Russia with Northern Ireland, I know how hostile home fans can be, but, personally, it is something I enjoy.

“The vast majority of the punters will be shouting for Rangers, but it will still be a great atmosphere and that’s what you want to be playing in front of.

“We know Rangers and their fans will be up for it, because this is a game in hand where they can go top, but we’ve been going well and we are looking for that to continue.”

Whatever the circumstances of the game, after recent injury troubles, on-loan from Cardiff Feeney is just happy to be making a contribution.

“I got hurt when I was away with Northern Ireland and I’ve had to wait to get back in. As far as I am concerned, this is my season just starting and I want to do well.

“Ibrox is a great place and it would be great to get my first competitive United goal there, but the main thing is that one of us gets on the scoresheet and we keep our run going.”

United may still appeal Roy O’Donovan’s weekend red card and he could, therefore, still be available tonight. Either way, Feeney makes no attempt to disguise the feeling his fellow-attacker was hard done by when given a red card for a ball-winning tackle at Falkirk.

“Roy was unlucky and I feel for him. He went for the ball and, particularly away from home, it is important that, as a team, we are defending from front to back.

“When he went off, it left me with a hard shift up there on my own and it’s going to be another one against Rangers.

“It’s about working hard for your team, though, and putting in the kind of tackles Roy did — you can’t stop going for the ball.”

That’s an opinion shared by boss Craig Levein and, even in the wake of the weekend dismissal, he will not be altering his team instructions.

“If we are going to do anything, we have to stop Rangers playing and that means everyone working hard and putting tackles in. If you don’t do that, you have no chances at places at Ibrox,” he said.

He did stress his dismay and O’Donvan’s fate was not directed at match referee Iain Brines, who he felt was only following orders.

“This is not something that is driven by referees and I’m not blaming them because they are only doing what they are being told.”

As well as the question over O’Donovan, United will again be without the injured Jon Daly tonight, though he remains on course to be back to face Aberdeen on Saturday.

It is a coach, though, that Jocky wanted his former captain and, in the wake of the arrival of Ray Farningham as assistant manager, he was delighted to get another man with such strong Dens connections on board.

“I said when I came back last week I want a team around me who were Dundee people and, like ‘Jinky’, Barry fits that bill,” said Jocky.

“People thought it would be one or other of them who came in, but I have been able to make room for both and I am happy about that.

“Barry is available as a player from January and has asked to be registered. That suits me and, while I’ll have to assess his fitness before I decide if I’ll play him, even if it is just for situations like last Saturday, when we were short of bodies, he will be good to have.”

Smith was back at Dens today and will be in again later in the week, but, having already committed himself to a three-week working holiday in Australia from this weekend, will not take up his full-time duties until next month.

With community coach John Holt being given a bigger role and Gordon Wallace still overseeing the youth set-up, there will be plenty cover until then.

As seen last Saturday, when he looked on from the stand, veteran coach Wallace will also have a major role to play on match days.

“Gordon will be up there every week to get an overview of what’s going on. I prefer being in the dugout, but you do get a better view from the stand and I’ll use his experience there,” explained Jocky.

On the injury front, striker Bryan Deasley should recover from the knock he took against Airdrie in a couple of days, while full-back Eric Paton is expected to return for Saturday’s visit to Dunfermline.

The English millionaire led village team Gretna all the way to the SPL and a Scottish Cup Final before the dream turned into a nightmare and the club went bust at the end of last season.

While that cast a big shadow over his name in the Borders, in Dundee and other parts of the football world, his passing has been greeted with sadness.

A willing supporter of organisations like Dee 4 Life, Mileson gave both time and cash to the group. Today, George Knight labelled his £30,000 donation the difference between success and failure in the bid to buy a 26% stake in Dundee.

“I got a text from the club yesterday telling me Brooks had died and, for me, it was very sad news,” said George, who is also on the board at Dens.

“What happened at Gretna I don’t know, and it is not our business, but, having got to know him well, I can say I found him a nice and helpful guy.

“He took time during a close season to drive up from England and support us and give us some good advice.

“And the £30,000 he pledged if we hit our target of £120,000, was what enabled Dee 4 Life to buy shares and give fans a permanent stake in our club.”

Dundee fans were not the only beneficiaries of Mileson’s generosity and, over the road at Tannadice, he gave £10,000 to United’s supporters’ federation. Down south, clubs like Chester and Carlisle also benefited from his help.

On Monday night, new Dens boss Jocky Scott and chairman Bob Brannan will attend a question-and-answer session for Dee 4 Life members in the Dundee Social Club (7.30 pm).

Keeper Lee Robinson has gone back to Rangers after finishing his loan spell.