On The Hunt For Goals Versus Rangers

Noel Hunt will return to training on Thursday, with Craig Levein hopeful he will be fit enough to join the squad for the trip to Ibrox on Saturday.

It's hoped that Noel Hunt will partner new signing Jon Daly, meaning Dundee United will have an all Irish strike force against manager-less Rangers.

With 8 goals this season, Noel Hunt is currently Dundee United's top goalscorer, but has been out for 4 weeks with an ankle injury.

"Hunt is still with the physio, but I think he will be with the rest of the squad by Thursday and that would make him available for the weekend."

"We had another three or four back today and if things continue to go well, we should have most of them back training normally by Thursday and that would be a bonus."

New signing Jon Daly is looking forward to playing alongside Noel Hunt in his debut against Rangers on Saturday, because they never got the chance when they were in the Irish Under-21 team together.

"I know Hunty really well from the Irish under-21s but we just never got the chance to team up," Daly told the Courier.

"When I was in the side he would be on the bench and vice versa. Then there would be other players getting their chance, so we haven`t been able to work together until my move to United."

"He is a nippy player and hopefully I can supply a few flick-ons for him to run on to."

"I noticed he has a decent goals record this season and it would be great if I can help him climb the scoring charts as well as get a few for myself."

With Irish defender Sean Dillon also joining the club this week, it could mean a radically different starting line-up to the one which was beaten 5-1 by Falkirk on New Years day.

Christian Kalvenes(knee) and Steven Robb(back) are definitely out of the game, whilst Lee Wilkie(loan, Ross County) and Barry Robson(suspended) are also unavailable.

Meanwhile, Stuart Duff is the latest United player to be struck down with the same flu bug which caused the St Mirren Scottish Cup match to be postponed last weekend.

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