DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | MOTHERWELL (H)
31st October 2024
After a weekend in which United's SPL future was assured in victory at Perth, Tannadice manager Alex Smith looked ahead to his blueprint for next season.
He claimed that those plans would get underway in Saturday's league finale at Aberdeen, hinting at changes in personnel amongst his Pittodrie starters. Midfielder Craig Easton misses out due to suspension, and in a bid to avoid a similar absence for skipper Jason de Vos at the start of the next campaign, the big Canadian is expected to sit it out up in the Granite city. Explained Smith, "Jason won't have much of a close season due to international commitments starting later this month. I will probably tell him to have a break."
Should de Vos be absent, then a switch back for Danny Griffin to play alongside Jim Lauchlan would appear to be the likeliest solution. That would mean a couple of midfield vacancies, with ex-Airdrie pair Darren Brady and David McGuire along with Tassos Venetis leading the challengers.
Contenders for starting places will be long-term injury absentees Jim Paterson and Jamie Fullarton, both of whom may play in Monday's Under-21 league game at Motherwell. While the occasion could see the continuance of Paterson's comeback, it would mark a first competitive outing for Fullarton since his horror accident in the home league clash with Kilmarnock last November.
He claimed that those plans would get underway in Saturday's league finale at Aberdeen, hinting at changes in personnel amongst his Pittodrie starters. Midfielder Craig Easton misses out due to suspension, and in a bid to avoid a similar absence for skipper Jason de Vos at the start of the next campaign, the big Canadian is expected to sit it out up in the Granite city. Explained Smith, "Jason won't have much of a close season due to international commitments starting later this month. I will probably tell him to have a break."
Should de Vos be absent, then a switch back for Danny Griffin to play alongside Jim Lauchlan would appear to be the likeliest solution. That would mean a couple of midfield vacancies, with ex-Airdrie pair Darren Brady and David McGuire along with Tassos Venetis leading the challengers.
Contenders for starting places will be long-term injury absentees Jim Paterson and Jamie Fullarton, both of whom may play in Monday's Under-21 league game at Motherwell. While the occasion could see the continuance of Paterson's comeback, it would mark a first competitive outing for Fullarton since his horror accident in the home league clash with Kilmarnock last November.
