KERKAR ON BENCH FOR VISIT TO MOTHERWELL

Algerian midfielder Karim Kerkar will not be on the pitch at 3pm this Saturday after a small recurrence of a thigh injury. He will however be fit enough to win a place on the bench.

Kerkar was signed from Clyde after only three games with ‘The Bully Wee’, who had him as the player’s agent was putting him in the ‘shop window’.

He has yet to feature in a first team game, though he played for the reserves on Tuesday night and had a very strong game, with Tony Docherty saying United had dominated most of the game, “particularly … Kerkar who showed some nice touches.”.

Incidentally United lost 2-0 to Aberdeen in the reserve league fixture at Montrose.

In other news, ex-United favourite Charlie Miller is not having the best of times in Norway, and has also yet to feature in the first team at Brann Bergen.

Brann Bergen coach Ivar Mjelde said "He has shown on occasions what he can do, but his fitness level is far from great. We wouldn't have signed him had we known". Though Charlie’s agent has hit out at the criticism. John Viola said “I've never before been as disappointed and angry as the comments I read from Mjelde on Charlie. They are unfair and unjustified and Charlie does not deserve to be on the receiving end of them.

"Bergen knew Charlie was two months behind the rest of the first-team squad in terms of fitness when he joined the club in July.

"It was fully explained to them because, after all, they were in the middle of their season when we were into our preseason break. So for their coach to say he didn't know about Charlie's fitness is rubbish.”

Mixed reports there – but we all know CM’s reputation for being unfit. Hands up anyone who is surprised!