“Colin’s been in training for a couple of weeks now, but with our youth squad away training in Portugal for another 10 days, I don’t have enough bodies to arrange closed-door games for him,” he explained.

“Obviously, he’s not ready yet to go straight back into our first team, so, by going to Arbroath, he’ll get the game time he needs and they will have the benefit of a very experienced player for three league games.”

Cameron is likely to play a part in the Red Lichties’ friendly with Rangers tomorrow night.

Arbroath boss John McGlashan said, ”This is a massive coup for the club.

“The deal, which will last no longer than a month, came around very quickly and a number of clubs were interested, but our good links with Dundee made this possible.”

In the build-up to Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie of the teams at Celtic Park, Jocky has entered into a friendly war of words with his opposite number.

When he makes a serious assessment of Strachan’s time in charge of The Hoops, however, his praise in glowing.

“I’m told he’s been saying I was a grumpy old man even when he arrived at Dundee in the 70s. All I remember of him is he was a cheeky wee guy, and that’s obviously not changed!” said Jocky.

“I saw his team took a bit of stick last week when United came back to get a draw against them and, as a manager, I’m sure he accepted it.

“We all know if things go wrong in individual-game situations, that’s going to happen and it’s fair enough, but, when I hear some Celtic fans being critical of his time there in general, it’s unbelievable.

“Gordon is bang on course for a fourth title in a row and, in his time there, they’ve been successful in the Champions’ League.

“In terms of achievement, that’s fantastic and their fans should be savouring this period. I know he is with a club that is going to win more games than they lose, but he is winning trophies and has done it by spending much less money than Martin O’Neill did.”

Jocky expects no thanks for those words and has warned his players there will be no complacency in the Celtic ranks on Saturday.

“Whatever I say about him, his only thoughts on Saturday will be putting out a team that is going to beat us.

“We’ll be up against a quality team and what this game is going to come down to is how my players handle being on this kind of stage.”

Dundee will have the option of going with an unchanged line-up for the third game in a row after full-back David Cowan confirmed his fitness in training following a bout of sickness.

Wilkie ended speculation over his future by signing a new three-year deal last night, and talks have begun aimed at getting Dods to extend his Tannadice stay.

After dropping out of the team recently, the 33-year-old has been linked with a departure and, not for the first time, a return to former club Inverness Caley Thistle has been flagged up.

If his manager gets his way, however, the former Hibs and St Johnstone man is going nowhere.

“Darren will definitely be in the team on Sunday and he is a big part of my plans. I’m already speaking to him and he will be offered a new contract on improved terms,” confirmed Craig.

“He is a victim of the under-21 rule and the fact he is an out-and-out centre half. That means that if he isn’t in the starting line-up, he often does not feature at all because we need under-21s on the bench, and the likes of Danny Grainger and Mihael Kovacevic provide cover for a couple of positions.

“He still has a lot to offer, though, and he is an important player for us.”

Dods’ inclusion will leave at least one place still up for grabs and either Prince Buaben or David Robertson will come in for Scott Robertson when he is left out in a bid to clear a niggling groin problem.

With fringe players not seeing much action recently because of the weather, that trio were involved this afternoon when United travelled to Livingston for a closed-door game.

Talk, meanwhile, of Leeds United interest in on-loan midfielder Willo Flood was news to United.