Tony Docherty would have no qualms about throwing returning Luke Graham straight into the red-hot heat of another Dundee derby.
The defender, who played in the 2-2 Premiership derby opener at Tannadice, has just been recalled from a successful spell with Championship table-toppers Falkirk.
The 20-year-old’s comeback comes at the perfect time with Docherty having central defenders Antonio Portales, Clark Robertson and Joe Shaughnessy out and major doubts over Billy Koumetio and Jordan McGhee.
Docherty, who is also set to extend Oluwaseun Adewumi’s loan from Burnley for the season, admitted: “We’ve monitored Luke throughout his loan period. He’s been fantastic, absolutely brilliant. And again, we are indebted to the job John McGlynn has done with Falkirk.
“I think it’s a perfect example of a really good loan.
“He’s gone out and gained all that experience playing in games with a team at the top of the league.
“He’s been a massive part of that team being top of the Championship.
“So he’s certainly in a good position and we’re really, really pleased with his development.
“Him going out and doing that has put himself in a much stronger position as a Dundee player.
“He’s come back with more experience as well. That’s important to me.”
Docherty reckons his squad go into the derby on a major high after their win at St Mirren last time out. He knows it is a special game.
“The first derby was brilliant,” the Dundee boss claimed.
“It just creates so much excitement in the city.
“And the fact the game is live on Sky, hopefully it is a good advert for the Dundee derby, like the last one was.
“I thought it was a brilliant spectacle.
“The fans all get involved and just the whole history of the fixture with the teams walking up the road. It’s brilliant.
“The place is buzzing.
“When a derby comes round, particularly on the back of such a positive result and performance, the boys are absolutely buzzing back in.
“It’s brilliant motivation for me as well that everybody wants to play in the derby.
“You throw that gauntlet down.
“A lot of them put themselves in a strong position.”
United have made a flying return to the Premiership and sit in fourth place and nine points above their rivals. Docherty and his men are determined to cut that gap with the help of a boisterous home support.
Docherty acknowledged: “They’ve done well. They’re in a good position. They’ve recruited well.
“But for me, it’s all about us.
“We’re at home and we’ve just come off the back of a brilliant result. There’s a lot of real positives to highlight.
“In the last derby the support we got from the fans away from home was brilliant.
“But now that it’s our home game, you know, we’ll be looking for them to get behind the team as they always do. And I know they will.
“They’ve been brilliant in my time here. Absolutely brilliant.
“And home form is so important to the team. Being at home has to be a real advantage for us.
“So I would urge the crowd to be with the boys. I know they will.
“Encouraging us to do everything we can to get that positive result.”
Docherty is expecting a busy start to January.
He has already brought in Mexican Cesar Garza and they are hoping he gets clearance to give the on-loan Monterrey midfielder his debut against United.
Docherty also admitted a verbal agreement is now in place to extend Adewumi’s loan for the rest of the campaign.
He stated: “There hasn’t been any paperwork done on it but we have assurances that Adewumi will be with us. “That is fantastic news for us.”
Docherty îs also looking to further strengthen his injury-hit squad and is also in talks about extending Sean Kelly’s short-term contract until the end of the season. Kelly’s deal is up after Thursday’s game.