League break will make United fitter

TANNADICE: McKinnon to ensure everyone is ‘at their peak’ for Dumbarton

Dundee United boss Ray McKinnon will use the international break to try to ensure his squad are all as close as possible to the same high level of fitness.

The Tangerines are still licking their wounds after Saturday’s St Mirren mauling with Jack Ross’s side running out comfortable 3-0 winners.

McKinnon was bitterly disappointed with the result and performance in Paisley but has already shifted his focus to the next Championship game with Dumbarton on September 9 at Tannadice.

Before then, United play Alloa in the Irn Bru Challenge Cup this weekend and the manager admitted he has plenty of food for thought over his selection for that game.

McKinnon said: “We need to take these two weeks and use them to our advantage. We’ve got to use this gameaswelltomakesureeveryoneisattheirpeakfor Dumbarton as that’s the important one.”

“Whether we use Saturday’s cup tie with Alloa to give some people game-time – or take them out to do other things with them to get them to where they need to be in the next two weeks – we’ll decide on that,” said McKinnon.

“It’s a delicate one for sure. We have to get that balance right.

“There are people who probably need to play on Saturday and others who will do something else. We’re a team who are all over the spectrum in terms of fitness right now.

“There are loads of guys trying to get to that necessary level like Willo Flood, Jordy Briels, James Keatings and Scott Fraser to name just a few.

“It’s difficult but it’s a real balancing act trying to get everyone up to speed.”

McKinnon and his squad sat down on Monday to pore over the video nasty of their game at St Mirren.

The manager admitted they had pinpointed the reasons for the poor performance in Paisley and they will now work hard to rectify them.

He said: “It (watching video) was something that needed to be done.

“Listen, the manner we were beaten on Saturday, we didn’t have enough energy or fight but there are reasons for that.

“There are always reasons for defeats but you have to find them and we did.

“We looked back at the game and found the reasons. What we have to do now is rectify them to give everyone the opportunity to play at their best.

“For instance, the defence was sitting 30 yards deeper than the midfield who were 30 yards off it.

“There was just far too much room for St Mirren. We couldn’t close the gaps.

“There were loads of factors but all we need to do is to use these two weeks to get everyone back as close to peak fitness as possible.”

Ray McKinnon and his squad pored over video nasty of the game in Paisley.