Jim Goodwin ‘trying to protect’ Dundee United squad during hectic schedule

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin admits his team selection considerations are being dominated by the need to avoid injuries as he prepares for his third game in a week.

Goodwin lost Kevin Holt and made five changes to his starting line-up on Wednesday for United’s second game against Celtic in 17 days after noticing a lack of energy in Sunday’s defeat by Hearts.

United played four fixtures in between their goalless home draw with Celtic and the 2-0 defeat by the champions and Goodwin will now assess who is best placed to face St Mirren in Paisley on Saturday.

“We’ve got players that are really struggling in terms of energy levels and we’re trying to protect the squad as best we can, trying to manage the group to avoid any injuries at this stage,” he said. “Similar to every other manager out there, I would imagine.

“Kevin Holt was carrying a knock and missed out and Ross (Graham) stepped in and did the job brilliantly.

“It is really, really difficult and when you’ve got such a tight squad as we have then it becomes even more challenging.

“We’ve got three really influential players out at the moment well, four obviously when you include Kevin Holt as well as Louis Moult, Craig Sibbald and David Babunski.

“We’re sitting there with young lads on the bench trying to make up the numbers and it is difficult.

“It’s not an excuse, we were beaten by the better team but there is no doubt about it, the players are only human at the end of the day. They’re not robots.

“We try and get them the best medical attention as we can during this period and try and give them absolutely everything in terms of the recovery process but they’re not playing at 100 per cent at the moment because Saturday will be our seventh game in 20 days and it’s just physically not possible to recover in time to be at peak condition.

“So I’m delighted with what the players are giving me right now. They run through brick walls for you at the moment and where we’re sitting at the moment going into these last 11 games prior to the split is very pleasing but we have to try and kick on now.

Defender Holt is rated as 50-50 to be fit to take on St Mirren.

Goodwin said: “Holty had a little niggle. Babunski’s picked up a little knock. But Sibbald will be back hopefully in a couple of weeks. Louis Moult is not a million miles away. So hopefully the squad will look a lot stronger in the next fortnight.”