United's Northern Ireland international and captain Danny Griffin looks likely to be out of action for at least a month. He was taken off injured against Hearts on Saturday and has suffered a ligament strain.
Within minutes of being taken off, United lost the game's opening goal and his organisational skills are likely to be missing for Saturday's visit of Celtic and United's travels to Easter Road on January 2nd and to Fir Park on January 12th as well as the home cup tie against Forres Mechanics on Saturday 5th January. The earliest he can be expected to return to action would be in the Dundee match at Tannadice on Saturday 19th January and even then, that prospect looks doubtful.