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General Sport - 03 December 2008
Football: Blether with Brown > Touchline
 
Sandaza sidelined
Sandaza sidelined

Dundee United are likely to be without top league scorer Francisco Sandaza when they travel to face Inverness Caley on Saturday (writes Graeme Finnan).

The Spanish striker, who has bagged six SPL goals this term, has been struggling to shake off a foot problem for the last few weeks and looks set to miss out against the Highlanders.

“I don’t think Francisco will play on Saturday,” said boss Craig Levein. “He’s been getting injections for the past two weeks, but they don’t seem to be helping.”

Another absentee will be Irish midfielder Willo Flood, who is suspended.

Meanwhile, having committed his own future to the club by agreeing a new three-year deal yesterday, the manager will now get down to the business of persuading his out-of-contract players to do likewise.

Among those whose current deals expire in the summer are Lee Wilkie, Darren Dods, Sean Dillon, Jon Daly, Lukas Zaluska and Flood.

However, while he admitted he’s been “working behind the scenes”, Craig won’t discuss contract talks until he can tell the fans something concrete.

The United gaffer did admit, though, he was unlikely to be dipping into the transfer market when the window opens in January.

He said, “Unless we hit some major problems, I don’t envisage doing any business.”

Dens pair chilled out
This week’s Arctic blast may have put paid to Dundee pair Colin McMenamin and Darren Young’s chances of being involved against Livingston on Saturday (writes Graeme Finnan).
The duo were set to feature this evening in a closed-door game against Cowdenbeath, but, with the Fifers’ Central Park surface frozen solid, the game has been called off.

That was bad news for the players as they continue to recover from injury, and also their manager Jocky Scott, who was keen to see them, and a few other fringe men, get some much-needed match action.

The Dens gaffer will now have to decide whether or not to include them in the party that travels to Almondvale at the weekend.

“I would say the fact Colin and Darren haven’t managed to get a game this week certainly limits their chances,” said Jocky.

“By the same token, there are still a few days to go until the game, so we’ll have to wait and see just who we have available and take it from there.”

Meanwhile, Livingston have been hitting the headlines this week after sacking manager Roberto Landi in the wake of their Scottish Cup defeat to East Stirling.

The Lothian outfit have also been under increasing scrutiny regarding their financial stability amid reports creditors are queueing up to claim unpaid bills.

However, regardless of what is happening in the opponents’ camp, Dundee will go about their business in the usual manner as they look to continue their unbeaten run since Jocky took over.

“What is going on down there makes absolutely no difference to how we approach the game,” said the Dens boss.

“What they do is their own business.”

Cup-tie on back-burner
St Johnstone are putting all thoughts of their glamour Scottish Cup tie against Rangers out of their minds at the moment (writes James Masson).
The pair will meet at McDiarmid Park on Tuesday, January 13 (8.05), with BBC Scotland screening the action.

“Cups have been good to us lately with two Scottish Cup semi-final appearances, a CIS semi appearance and a Challenge Cup win, and we want to go as far as we can in the Scottish Cup,” said Saints boss Derek McInnes.

“It’s nice to have a big tie like this to look forward to, but we have important league games before that and that’s where our concentration lies at the moment.

“We are fully focused on the visit of QOS on Saturday and it’s important we have a good December to stay top of the First Division.”

Martin Hardie is free of suspension and available for Saturday, while it’s hoped injury-hit Stuart McCaffrey and Kevin James will be back training tomorrow.

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