Pernis keeps boss waiting

Dundee United boss Peter Houston still doesn't know when goalkeeper Dusan Pernis will be back at Tannadice for pre-season training.

Having knocked reigning champions Italy out of the World Cup this week, Pernis' giant-killing Slovakian team are now preparing for a second round meeting with Holland on Monday afternoon.

However, the Arabs custodian will almost certainly be watching the action again from the substitutes bench.

"I have sent Dusan and Robert Tomaschek, who I know from Hearts, text messages congratulating them on the result the other day," Houston told The Courier. "It was a magnificent achievement, one of the biggest World Cup results in recent years.

"Dusan has been on the bench for all three games, but just to be involved in that will be a fantastic experience," he added.

"We will give him a few weeks holiday when it is all over, because he will need to unwind.

"Slovakia have got a very hard game in the next round, but anything can happen—so hopefully it might be a wee while yet before Dusan is back at Tannadice."

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