That, he feels, is because he has learned to do his work in both directions.

“When the manager brought me back into the team, something he picked up on was my defensive work. He told me I had to concentrate on those duties and that’s what I’ve been doing,” said Danny.

“I’m still doing the stuff going forward, but I know I cannot forget the other side of the game and I think that’s what’s helped me keep my place.”

Against a Dons side who have not won since January, defending might seem something Swanson won’t have to do too much of, but the 23-year-old does not see things that way.

“Aberdeen have been struggling, but they’ve still got players who can hurt teams and, whoever you are up against, you have to be aware of their threat.

“We will be and we’ll be looking to handle them and the pitch because the surface at Pittodrie has not been too great this season.”

This New Firm derby sees the start of a run of four big games in under a fortnight that provide the chance for United to reach the Scottish Cup semis and put themselves well ahead in the race for third place in the league.

After tomorrow, Rangers come to Tannadice on Wednesday in the cup and the following seven days see fourth-placed Motherwell and Hibs, who lie fifth, faced.

He is not looking any further forward than Pittodrie, but Swanson admits the bigger the games the more he enjoys his work.

“I’ve been lucky that, since I’ve come here, we have always been chasing a European place in the league and usually trying to get to semis and finals in cups.

“I love it. I’d hate to be in a situation that, once we reach the split, we’d have a run of games where there was nothing to play for. To me, that’s just boredom.”

While stressing he will always consider Swanson an attacking player, Peter Houston has been satisfied with his defensive work.

“We did have a chat about it when I took over. He’s paid heed to what I’ve said and I’ve complimented him on that,” said the manager.

“As a team, we do like to attack, but it is important we all work back when necessary and he’s been doing that.”

Tomorrow will see Andy Webster back in defence after missing the Rangers cup-tie because of the terms of his loan, while David Goodwillie returns from illness.

Several members of the youths have gone down with the same stomach bug as he had and, as a result, the whole U/19 squad has been ordered to stay away from training.

So long as it is maintained, he is convinced that, starting with tomorrow’s trip to Airdrie United, the wins needed to get to the SPL can be secured.

“As professionals, we were hurting last Saturday and the feeling was we were not going to let that happen again,” he said.

“That’s the way everyone has been thinking, not just the boys who were on the park, because there is a sense of togetherness at this club and that is going to see us through.

“And the manager said we needed a reaction to Saturday and he’s got that. We knew the Raith game wasn’t good enough and, although we did not win at Ayr, we were a lot better.

“If we keep producing performances like that one, we will be OK come the end of the season.”

So far this term, it has been flair players like Gary Harkins and Leigh Griffiths who have grabbed the limelight in Dundee games. Malone, though, insists this is a team that can also win ugly.

“We are known as a passing team, but, on Wednesday, we have shown we can match teams’ workrate and commitment. If we do that, our quality can shine through.

“We will pass the ball when we can, but, at places like Airdrie, if we have to roll up the sleeves and dig in, we will. This will be a similar game to Ayr, because they are battling for their lives as well.

“We are still looking forward to it and we’ll be trying to get all three points this time.”

A win is top of boss Jocky Scott’s agenda and, he feels, one success will trigger more in the vital promotion run-in.

“I’ve a few fitness checks to make, but my big concern is that we take all the points this time, because this is a must-win game,” he said.

“The attitude and commitment were spot-on at Ayr on Wednesday and, if we add a win to that tomorrow, I am sure it will give us the belief we need.”

Jocky was not revealing who took knocks in midweek, though he will definitely have to find a replacement for suspended skipper Eric Paton.

The manager missed training today to head for Ayrshire for the funeral of former team-mate and member of Dundee’s championship-winning side Hugh Robertson, who died last week aged 71.

Cillian Sheridan can’t play as he’s on loan from Celtic and Saints have agreed to leave him out against his parent club.

He scored the only goal of the game against Aberdeen and another who lined up that night, Kevin Moon, is out for up to eight months due to a cruciate ligament knee injury.

Of the 10 who missed the Dons game, only Steven Milne is expected to recover from injury in time.

This leaves the injured Kevin Rutkiewicz, Stuart McCaffrey, Steven Anderson, Martin Hardie, Murray Davidson, Andy Jackson, Collin Samuel and Peter MacDonald still out along with Graham Gartland who hasn’t fully recovered from a virus.

Manager Derek McInnes had earmarked the Celtic fixture as one in which he would “freshen up” his side, but he added, “I don’t have that luxury now.

“However, despite our problems, we’ll be doing our best to get a result. If we win, it will be a huge scalp.”

Losing Moon for so long is a big blow.

“Kevin will need reconstruction surgery. We’re devastated for him. He will get every support from the club,” Derek added.

Meanwhile, Saints have signed former Leeds United youngster Josh Falkingham. The midfield man has been fixed up till the end of the season.

Team (from) — Smith, Grainger, Irvine, Duberry, Mackay, Morris, Craig, Millar, Morais, Deuchar, Reynolds, Milne, Falkingham, Sheerin, Main, Swankie, May, Connolly.

As for Celtic, keeper Artur Boruc returns to the squad after being given compassionate leave to miss last week’s 3-0 Active Nation Scottish Cup win over Kilmarnock.

Captain Scott Brown serves the second game of a three-match SPL ban, while Jos Hooiveld and Glenn Loovens (both hamstring), Paddy McCourt (knee) and Shaun Maloney (tendinitis) have all trained this week and will be monitored.

Team (from) — Boruc, O’Dea, Loovens, Hooiveld, Maloney, McCourt, Braafheid, Hinkel, Wilson, Thompson, McGeady, N’Guemo, Crosas, Samaras, Keane, Rasmussen, Zaluska, Fortune, Ki, Caddis.