Dundee United will be without manager Micky Mellon for the game against Livingston this weekend, as he and coaching staff have been ordered to self-isolate.
Dundee United Academy coach Thomas Courts is set to be in-charge of the team for the game. He will no doubt be working closely to Mellon’s instructions.
However, Courts can make his own impact as a manager if he restores Lawrence Shankland to the Dundee United starting line-up.
Didn’t start last league game
The 25-year-old striker was left out of the starting line-up for the Tannadice side’s last league game, the 2-1 win over Hamilton Academicals. He did come on as a second-half sub though.
It can be said that so far, Shankland has found it difficult to replicate his Championship form in the Premiership. He has scored two goals so far this season.
However, on his day, he is more than capable of finding the back of the net if he is on song. If United are wanting to have the best chance of picking up the three points at Livingston, Courts might well consider starting Shankland.
Will want to keep in Scotland manager’s plans
The player will be desperate to play for numerous reasons. One of those being the chance to show that he should still be in Steve Clarke’s thoughts when picking the Scotland squad for Euro 2020.
Shankland will be in Clarke’s thoughts if he can find the back of the net on a regular basis. That is obviously more likely to happen if he is in Dundee United’s starting line-up.
Courts can put his own impact on the line-up if he brings Shankland back into the starting line-up.