And, although defeats against Rangers and Aberdeen mean having a near-normal schedule has not always been a good thing, the midfielder believes, in the long run, it will prove beneficial.

“The weather has not been good the last few weeks, but we have had games most Saturdays and Wednesdays, and I like that. It is cold, but I don’t mind and you have to get on with it and play games.

“It was good to get our game on against Partick on Saturday and it was nice to get a win after we lost those games to Rangers and Aberdeen.”

On the subject of that Firhill cup clash, the French-born star is quick to highlight the quality of the performance, much of which was lost in the furore over Damian Casalinuovo’s opening goal.

“People are saying it was handball, and it was, but he did not do it on purpose and, over the 90 minutes, we played very well.

“We can take confidence from that, because Partick are a good team and they played well, but we got a couple of goals, so we will be looking to keep it going against Hamilton.”

He does concede Accies are a team who have given United problems since they came up to the SPL last season and knows their cup exploits — a 3-3 draw with Rangers — will have left them on a high.

“They scored three goals against Rangers and came back from two down. That shows they are a team with character and it will be difficult.

“They always make it hard for us, but we will go there and try to win the game. At Tannadice, we have had problems with them, but our last game against them last season was on their pitch and we played well and won, so that is our aim again.”

Tonight’s line-up will not be far removed from the side that won at Firhill, though David Goodwillie’s sensational late goal after coming on in that tie might just earn him a start.

Danny Cadamarteri is still out injured, as are long-term absentees Lee Wilkie, Francisco Sandaza and Scott Robertson. The home team will have former United man James Wesolowski back after hamstring trouble and, as his sending-off in the cup draw with Rangers was for two yellow cards, Richard Hastings is available for league duty.

As far as the playing surface at Hamilton is concerned, there are no problems envisaged and the game should go ahead.

And they have come up with exactly the solution the Dark Blues did not want.

They have ordered that the game takes place in West Lothian on Tuesday and, in the event of a draw, the replay will take place tomorrow week.

That’s left a worst-case scenario of Jocky’s men facing Livi just hours before heading for Dumfries to complete preparations for the all-important clash with Queen of the South on Saturday week.

With plenty of time until the fifth-round ties are due at the end of the first week in February, it’s a move that’s left the Dens boss baffled and unimpressed.

“This is absolutely the situation we wanted to avoid and to say I’m not happy is an understatement. I’m told, though, there is nothing we can do,” he said.

“I’ve spoken to the SFA and pointed out there is plenty of time before the next round to fit in a replay if one was needed — it could be on Monday week and the tie would still be completed well in advance of the next round.

“They are adamant they want all the ties completed next midweek and won’t budge. All it needed was a little common sense from them, but we are not getting that.

“And what has particularly annoyed me is that a replay would be our home game and we should have a say when it is. We are not getting one and that goes against convention.”

As the situation stands, if a second game is required, Dundee may go into it with a considerably-weakened team — a move that could lead to sanctions against them from the SFA.

Of course, Jocky is well aware of the best way to deal with the matter now and fans can expect a very positive approach on Tuesday.

“As would always be the case, we will be approaching the tie as one we want to win and the thing to do now is make sure we get a result in the first game.

“It still does not change the fact that what’s happened is not right.”

“I need all my squad to be physically equipped for the challenges that lie ahead and the senior players, who have been through this kind of thing before, can show a good example. Our focus at the moment is on the home SPL fixture against Aberdeen on Saturday.”