Tangerines take on managerless Saints

Dundee United have lost the services of attacking midfielder Danny Swanson for their derby clash with managerless St Johnstone this weekend.

The 24-year-old has a strained medial ligament in his knee which could keep him out of action for anything up to two months.

The Tangerines also have a doubt over Sean Dillon due to an ongoing calf problem, but at least fellow defender Keith Watson is back available.

"Training this week has been geared around the shape of the team and how we prevent losing goals," Watson told the Daily Record. "It has been a good week of training but now we have to put it into practice against St Johnstone.

"We have only kept two clean sheets this season and that's not good enough" he admitted. "We have been losing sloppy goals and have crumbled at times.

"The boys need to stay calm and not let our heads go down. I think that all we need is one clean sheet and then it will fall back into place."

St Johnstone have coach Alec Clelland in charge after the departure of manager Derek McInnes to Bristol City following four years at McDiarmid Park.

He is currently waiting on Cillian Sheridan (hamstring) while striker Sam Parkin (ankle) is already ruled out.

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