Jackie McNamara urges confidence for Hibs clash

DUNDEE United manager Jackie McNamara has told his side to play without fear in their Scottish Premiership league match with Hibsn at Easter Road this afternoon.

McNamara felt his side let themselves down in last weekend’s 1-0 home defeat to Inverness by not being brave enough and paid the price as a result. But the Taysiders have an opportunity to make amends when they head to the capital to take on Pat Fenlon’s side with McNamara urging his team to try and express themselves.

He said: “It’s a game which we should be looking to go and enjoy. We weren’t brave enough in the Inverness game especially on the ball so I would like to see the opposite of that from the players this time round. We know when we get the ball down and pass it quickly we can be a match for anyone. So I would like to see us express ourselves and show we can play a bit. We don’t want to let it develop into a battle and have to play for second balls. That’s not what we’re all about. I know the group of players here can play and I’ve got confidence in them to do that.”

McNamara knows Fenlon is under pressure after recent poor results but insists the Tannadice men will concentrate on their own agenda.

He said: “We will be focusing on what we do on the day. That’s football and that’s all we can do. Hibs have got some good players as we all know.They started the SPL season really well last season and got to the Scottish Cup Final in May. But it’s up to us to go there and try to get a positive result.

United defender Gavin Gunning is fit to start after knee surgery back in March. Turkish forward Nadir Ciftic took a knock in training but should be fit, while Scotland under-21 star Stuart Armstrong has no injuries from the friendly defeat to England in midweek.