EVERY WORD | JIM GOODWIN AHEAD OF LEITH ADVENTURE

Dundee United Manager Jim Goodwin spoke to the broadcast media at the DUFC Training Centre to preview our William Hill Premiership clash with Hibernian at Easter Road.

The boss gave an update on the availability of the squad, the pros and cons of the upcoming international break and what to expect from our visit to the capital on Sunday.

ON A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF MATCHDAY 11:

"We know it's going to be a difficult game. Easter Road is a great venue to play football and a number of our squad haven't played there before, so they'll be looking forward to that trip -it’s always a decent atmosphere there.

"We'll bring a good travelling support as well, but we want the same outcome as what we got a couple of weeks ago. We know the challenges that we face. Hibs are at the wrong end of the table as far as they're concerned and they've got real quality in their team, so we have to be wary of that. 

"From our perspective, we're looking to bounce back after what's been a couple of poor results, albeit the performance on Wednesday was very good.

"There were lots of parts of the game that I was very pleased with. The only disappointment from our end, I suppose, is the manner of the goals that we conceded.  

ON TEAM NEWS:

"We've got one or two that are pushing hard to try and make themselves available, but at this present moment in time, I can't give any guarantees.

"The injuries are quite serious ones and we'll be led by the players at this stage ultimately with regards to how they're feeling. If they're not in a position where they feel that they can play the game at a certain level of intensity, then we're not in a position where we can rush them. We've got another training session tomorrow (Saturday) and we'll see how those two in particular are feeling.

"It may just be the same squad as what we had on Wednesday night, but there are still 48 hours until kick-off and a lot can change in that time. 

ON RYAN STRAIN’S RETURN TO ACTION: 

"When we brought Ryan to the club, it was a really important signing for us. Then obviously we had the disappointment of the serious injury, but he's made great progress now getting himself back fit. He's nowhere near the match fitness that's required to play 90 minutes.

"We've been trying to build up his minutes. In the Aberdeen game, he got 20 minutes the other night there, he’s got the best part of half an hour. We'll gradually try and do that as we go through the weeks, but he feels great. He's got no pain in the injury. It's just now about trying to build up that match fitness."

ON WHETHER INJURY PROBLEMS WILL AFFECT JANUARY WINDOW PLANNING:

"We've still got a considerable period of time between now and January and I would expect three of the four guys who are out injured at the moment to be well back by then. 

"Craig Sibbald is going to be that little bit longer into the early part or maybe the middle of January. There is a set budget and we've got to try and work to that. At the same time, if we feel that there's a key area that we need to strengthen then, of course, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. 

"But when everybody's fit and healthy, we've got a competitive squad and this squad has done really well up to now - we've picked up a decent number of points for this stage of the season and we’re sitting fifth in the table.  

"We probably feel that we are two or three points short of where we should be given some of the disappointing goals that we've conceded. There's no point in me overly concerning myself with the players who aren't available.

"I've got to focus on the players who are fit. I believe we've got enough fit players in the squad to go to Easter Road and give a really good account of ourselves and come away with a positive result." 

ON LUCA STEPHENSON SHIFTING INTO MIDFIELD ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT:

"We felt in the early part of the second half that we weren't able to get the likes of Middleton and Trapanovski on the ball enough, so we decided to make the change and go with two strikers up front and then with the two wing-backs giving us the width on either side. We tried to strengthen that midfield area by getting the extra man in there with Luca. I felt it worked well.

"We were putting balls into dangerous areas, and I just think sometimes you've got to credit the opposition. Motherwell get lots of men back in behind the ball, they’re very good at getting blocks on shots and defending their box really well. Credit to them for that. 

"From our perspective, the overall performance was a very positive one. Of course, we'll take learnings from the goals that we conceded and we'll try not to make those mistakes again as we go forward."

ON HAVING ANOTHER INTERNATIONAL BREAK IN NOVEMBER:

"The international breaks can come at good times and bad times and I think when you're winning games of football, you've got a bit of momentum and a bit of confidence, then you don't want the break.

"Given the situation that we're in currently with injuries, the international break might be a positive for us. 

"We always knew this week was going to be demanding given the players that were missing. Three games in a week is a tough ask for most teams, but especially for us at this moment because we can't rotate and freshen things up like we would in key areas.

"You saw that the other night with Motherwell, given they've got an important game coming up at the weekend. We don't have that luxury but it's not something that we're making excuses about. It's just the reality of the situation."

ON THE DEMANDING SCHEDULE:

"It’s very demanding. I held my hands up after the game and was quite comfortable in admitting that Aberdeen were the better team at Pittodrie on Saturday evening and deservedly won the game.

"I thought the reaction from the players on Wednesday evening was a really positive one and the overall performance was probably one of our best of the season to date, albeit we didn’t get the outcome that we all wanted. 

"We have to take the positives and try and get a bit of confidence from that and take it into the game at Easter Road. I'm confident that we can do that."