DANNY’S DEBUT NEARS

On Tuesday, United boss Alex Smith was happy to report that Danny Griffin had come through his Under-21 comeback with flying colours. Five months after his £600,000 signing from St Johnstone, the Northern Ireland international has still to make his first team debut because of a knee injury. However, he played 45 minutes against Motherwell at Tannadice on Monday night and came through unscathed. "Danny did very well and the signs are the injury is now a thing of the past. I will not be pushing him but we are encouraged that he will not be out for too much longer," said Alex. Indeed there is a chance Griffin will feature at some stage in the last game before the winter break at home to Motherwell on 2nd January 2000. David Hannah is still having problems with an injury near his thigh and is to have a scan. He looks certain to be out until after the break.