That’s delighted manager Peter Houston, who believes it is only a matter of time before he gets the international recognition he came so close to in the win over the Czech Republic.

“As managers, we like to talk about people earning new contracts and, with Paul Dixon, that is certainly the case,” said Houstie.

“Each season, since he came over from Dundee, he has improved. He is a very good attacking full-back, who works very hard on his game and I know he will continue to improve.

“When he has been out of the team injured, he is a player we have missed and to know he is going to be here for another couple of years at least is very pleasing for me and good news for Dundee United.”

And in his role as assistant to Scotland boss Craig Levein last night, Houstie revealed just how near Dixon was to getting that cap.

“In the closing minutes we were a bit concerned that Lee Wallace was beginning to tire a bit, so we got Dicker stripped, but I know Craig is always reluctant to change a back four and it was the right decision for the team to leave things as they were.

“For Dicker and Garry Kenneth, just being with the Scotland squad for the past few days has been a valuable experience. What they have to concentrate on now is continuing to produce the kind of form with United that saw them get the call.”

The United man who did take part last night, Andy Webster, came off after 45 impressive minutes and is rated a doubt for Sunday’s home clash with Hearts.

“Being with Scotland, I know for myself that Andy was fine in training, but his calves felt a bit tight during the first half last night and that’s why he came off at the break.

“That’s a wee bit of a worry, because it’s been something that has bothered him on and off for a while now and we’ll have to see how he is for Sunday.

“However, Darren Dods and Garry Kenneth played very well in central defence against Falkirk last week, and I have no concerns about going with them on Sunday if I have to — if all three are fit it is going to be a difficult choice.”

Almost as quickly, though, the Dark Blues gaffer added his view that SPL chairmen would not be voting for it any time in the near future.

“I think it makes common sense and it is something I’ve been pushing for for a long time, but that doesn’t mean it is going to happen,” he said.

“I welcome his comments in as much as he is maybe considering suggesting an expansion to the Premier League, that we should have a bigger league and, if we don’t, maybe a play-off instead.

“From what I’ve been told, though, and knowing the way Premier League chairmen act, there is no way I can see it happening in the near future. This season only the team that wins the First Division is going to be going up.”

Jocky knows the chances of that team being his will be greatly enhanced if they can beat Inverness Caley at Dens on Saturday and he is hopeful of having a big squad to choose from.

Richie Hart was back in training today after being sidelined by the mixture of tight hamstrings and illness over the last week or so and long-term absentees Craig McKeown and Sean Higgins will be in the squad.

“For McKeown and Higgins, a lack of games is the problem, but they have both been training well for three weeks now and there comes a stage where I have to feel they can come into the equation.

“The way the weather’s been, there is going to be a lot of players around the country who are lacking match practice, so, in that respect, they will be no different from others.”

Meanwhile, local charities are set to benefit from a new Player of the Month award launched by supporters’ trust Dee 4 Life. Each month, 30 fans will be randomly selected from the Bobby Cox, South Enclosure and the main stands and given a card to vote on a game-by-game basis.

The winning player will pick up a special certificate, while the 30 voters will enter in a draw with the winner being photographed with the player. And, rather than presenting the winner with a trophy, a donation will be made on his behalf to the charity of his choice.

“We are actively working on ways in which we can help bring our football club and the community closer together, and we feel this latest initiative is a prime example of how we’re trying to achieve that aim,” said the trust’s Mike Jeffries.

To help fund the venture, Dee 4 Life are seeking sponsorship from local businesses.

It was Scotland’s first success in such a game at the national stadium for 14 years and only the team’s second win in the last five outings. That, the manager feels, will have provided a major confidence boost for his players when they prepare to battle it out with World Cup favourites Spain, Lithuania, Liechtenstein and the Czechs.

“Players are going back to their clubs with a smile on their faces and that has not happened for a while, so, although this was a friendly, the result was really important,” he said.

“We also had to show we are up for the fight and what lies ahead, and the players definitely did that. At times, we had to do some what you would call desperate defending, but that happens at this level when you are against very good sides — and the Czech Republic come into that category.

“I felt, though, that, once we scored, you could see the boost it gave the players. At times, they were a bit over-elaborate, but the confidence was coming back and that’s a good thing.”

He was quick to stress this result would have little bearing on when the teams meet in competitive action in the Czech Republic in October.

“It was not an ideal situation for either team that we played a friendly when we are going to meet in the qualifiers, but the game was arranged before the draw was made and there was not time to change it.”

Graham Gartland, Kevin Moon and Kenny Deuchar are all back training, but Murray Davidson remains sidelined, although Saints hope he’ll be OK to work out tomorrow.