Buaben had been refused entry into Germany when the United party flew out earlier this week because he didn’t have a required visa to go with his Ghanaian passport.

The 22-year-old was forced to fly back to Scotland and had to make a hastily-arranged trip to the Ghanaian embassy in Edinburgh today.

And, all being well, he was expected to fly out alongside chairman Stephen Thompson to join up with the squad tonight.

“Prince was in Edinburgh today getting his visa, so it is likely he’ll get here tonight,” confirmed Houstie.

“The chairman is also coming out, so I think they’ll travel together.

“We were hoping to try to get Prince into Salzburg, but he’s flying into Munich now. It will be a late one tonight, but that’s all right as long as he’s here.”

The manager added, “Last week, it had happened to another club and their African boys weren’t let in.

“It’s happening regularly when teams come to Germany. Prince obviously hadn’t been told about it before because he would have said and we’d have got it sorted for him.

“It’s actually a good thing now in a way, because we’re in the Europa League and we now know about it.”

The incident meant United were delayed in arriving at their hotel, but they got on with training as best as possible.

It followed a nightmare flight, where extreme turbulence left a number of players, Buaben included, fearing for their lives.

And midfielder Danny Swanson ended up the go-to man for morale support during the flight.

“David Goodwillie was sitting next to me and he got scared, he grabbed my hand and that felt dodgy,” explained Swanson.

“We’re a close team, but not that close — and I’m worried people on the flight will start talking about us. I told him to settle himself down, but he said, ‘I don’t want to die here’.

“It was just turbulence and a thunderstorm, although the landing was ropey because the wings were shaking about. The other lads were scared, too — Prince Buaben started screaming — but there was worse to come for him when we landed!”

In fact, United’s cup-winning midfield was made up of such signings, with Swanson arriving from Berwick in 2008, Morgaro Gomis being signed from Cowdenbeath and Craig Conway from Ayr.

With the financial restraints surrounding a number of Scottish clubs, being able to spot such talent and sign the players for relatively small fees is a valuable quality.

And Houstie was full of praise for the attitudes of the players who have made their mark at Tannadice, with the gaffer attributing their success to their attitudes and work ethic.

“It’s about picking the ones with desire. You don’t come to Dundee United and think you’ve made it because the hard work starts there, when you go to training and everyone is as good or better than you,” he said.

“I think the biggest thing, and the hardest thing, is trying to pick the good ones with the right attitudes.

“Barry Douglas had a spell with Livingston before and they decided not to take him on, but he has kicked on from there.”

He added, “We’ve got a couple of examples, Gomis who was good in the lower divisions, but the SPL is a big step-up.

“Morgaro’s listened and learned. Prince Buaben came off the street without playing a first-team game, but he’s listened.

“We’ve Barry Douglas now and I think he can be the same and take things on board. We’re trying to teach them the game.

“If I, as a young player, had the same experience I do now then I’d have been a better player for it.

“They have to have the attitude that’s spot on. Barry’s not the finished product, but the willingness to learn has got the others to where they are.”

And Houstie now reckons players such as Swanson can go on to even bigger things than they have achieved so far in their careers.

“People might have been put off Danny because of his size and build and thought he’d be easily knocked off the ball in the SPL. However, he’s got the mental attitude that he’s a boy from Leith without any fear,” Peter added.

“How far can he go? If Danny produces the performances he’s capable of consistently, and that’s the thing we’ve still got to put into his game, who knows how far he can go.

“I’m delighted he’s at United, but maybe, one day, he might think there might be a bigger club. And if Craig Levein’s still the Scotland manager he might be looking for a role in that team.”

But a summer of hard work, even before United’s official pre-season began, has seen Robertson raring to go and ready to battle for his place in the team.

Morgaro Gomis and Prince Buaben earned rave reviews for their performances for the Tangerines last season and Scott admitted it won’t be easy for him to win his place back.

“It’s all about getting fully fit again and there’s no easy way to do that, especially here with the heat — it’s going to be hard,” he said.

“It’s not my choice, I’ve just got to do my best in training and in games and then it’s up to the manager if he wants to pick me.

“I really want to play now, though, especially with the boys doing so well last season to finish third and win the cup.”

Robertson recovered in time to take a place on the bench for the Scottish Cup Final and he is now hoping the worst-ever period of injury in his career is behind him.

“It’s something I’d never really considered before, I’d been pretty lucky with injuries and the longest I’d ever been out for was six weeks,” said Scott.

“So to be out for four months at the end of my first season at United and then eight months out last season was desperately frustrating.

“Now I really want to get back the form I showed when I first came here.”

Robertson won his first Scotland cap coming on as a substitute against Argentina in November 2008, but, while some people may think a good season could see him called up again by ex-United manager Craig Levein, Scott only has reclaiming his form in a Tangerine jersey in mind.

He added, “I don’t really like to talk about it, but, obviously, if I am back in the kind of form I was when I first arrived at United it’s a possibility.

“But that’s not going to happen if I don’t get back into the United team, that’s what I’m aiming for and what I enjoy, to be playing week in and week out, which, hopefully, I can carry on this season.”

United manager Peter Houston has certainly been impressed with the way Robertson has come through pre-season so far, and praised him for his work-rate.

He said, “Scott’s not missed training. He’s looked good so far and he’ll be like a new player because we’ve not seen him for a year.”

However, new signing Dominic Shimmin and goalie Rab Douglas remain on the sidelines, although both are edging closer to a return.

“We’d hoped to have Dominic back this week, but he’s still in with the physio,” said Chis.

“Big Rab has been training with Rab Geddes and was able to step up his training yesterday.

“He’s beginning to look a bit more like himself and is building up a bit of confidence.”

Meanwhile, although transfer activity at the club remains quiet, the manager is optimistic there will be developments in the near future.

And, as he pointed out, it isn’t just Dundee who are struggling to make signings, most clubs across the country are seeing little movement as far as players are concerned.

“I was speaking to big Mixu Paatelainen (Killie boss) and he agreed that there’s hardly anybody moving at the moment,” continued Gordon.

“Everybody is feeling the pinch, but, believe me, we’ll get there in the end.”

St Johnstone, meanwhile, have “one or two players suffering wee knocks” and they weren’t being risked this afternoon.

However, Saints hope to finalise the signing of striker Sam Parkin in time to play — with other new boys, Jamie Adams, Scott Dobie and Cleveland Taylor, also lining up.

Defender Stuart McCaffrey is also set to play. Plagued by injury last season, he has come through pre-season OK.