And, while he knows all will have become clear by three o’clock on Saturday, he admitted to having a lot of waiting and thinking to do.

That Robertson is only a severe doubt with a toe problem was almost the good news, so severe was a tackle in the cup win at Ross County on Tuesday night that also left him nursing a knee problem.

“At the time, I thought he’d done his knee and we were looking at a long, long absence, but it seems to be fine,” said Craig.

“The toe is a problem, but only in terms of whether or not he makes Saturday and, even if he is out for one game, that’s a relief.”

United had been hoping such an absence would have been covered by the return of Morgaro Gomis, but, having recovered from flu, it’s emerged he is still having problems with the calf he hurt at Celtic almost a fortnight ago.

“The flu has masked the injury and Morgaro thought it was fine, but he suffered a reaction when he returned to training and he wasn’t doing anything today.

“It’s now getting very tight for time as far as he is concerned and we’ll need an improvement quickly for him to have a chance.”

Up front, Danny Cadamarteri has a dead leg and, while he should be OK, if he does not recover in time it could mean an earlier-than-expected return for Goodwillie.

He was left out on Tuesday after the weekend incident in a Bridge of Allan nightclub that led to him being charged with assault.

The manager’s anger over him breaking what was a weekend curfew prior to the cup-tie has not subsided, but that will not mean weakening his team by continuing Goodwillie’s punishment if Cadamarteri misses out.

Just to round off Craig’s worries, Andy Webster is again feeling the groin injury that has been the only minus in what to date has been a highly successful loan from Rangers.

“I was a wee bit concerned over having to play Webby twice in a week and he has been feeling it since Tuesday,” he said.

“My guess is he will make it for Saturday, but eventually it could lead to him missing games.”