Levein’s Minor Selection Crisis

Craig Levein has a minor selection problem ahead of this weekends crunch SPL clash with Dunfermline at Tannadice.

With captain Barry Robson still suspended, Mark Kerr doubtful, Steven Robb only just returning from injury after being out for over a month and defender Christian Kalvenes also not 100%, Levein might have to put out a makeshift side against Stephen Kennys new side.

“Mark took a knock on his knee at Kilmarnock and I don’t think he’ll make the weekend which is a blow, particularly with Barry Robson also going to be missing,” Levein told the Courier.

“These are the two guys in our midfield who have played the most games by far and whatever combination we go with it’ll contain players who are a lot less experienced.”

“I’ve thought about sticking Lee Mair in there and would be comfortable doing that if Robson or Kerr were available, but we’d be putting Mair into an untested position alongside 18 and 19-year-olds.”

“Noel trained today after being given a rest over the weekend and we’ll look to build his fitness up this week.

We also had Steven Robb back, but will need to be careful with him. He resumed training three weeks ago and after only two or three days got involved against Motherwell and Hearts only to drop out again.

“As you can probably imagine, I am wary about pitching him in this weekend for fear of something similar happening.”

“We’ll see how he is but the most likely scenario as far as he is concerned is targeting the cup tie a week on Saturday.”

“One player who will come into the equation is Morgaro Gomis, although he’s not played for a month.”

Meanwhile, the cold weather is hampering Dundee United’s preparations for the visit of Dunfermline this weekend.

“The forecast is for the temperature to drop to minus five tonight so we are going to give them tomorrow off and hope that conditions will be a bit better come Wednesday and we’ll be able to find some grass to train on,” said Levein.