Houston wary of County threat Dundee United boss Peter Houston has promised his side will give Ross County every respect in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League match at Tannadice.
Houston is well aware of the threat posed by Derek Adams' side, who are unbeaten in 39 league games going into their meeting on Tayside. Like United, the Irn-Bru First Division champions will go top of the table if they win. County have already caused a few surprises in their first ever SPL season, including coming within seconds of beating Celtic, and the United manager would never dismiss them. Houston said: "I have a lot of respect for what they are doing up there.
"They have a great set-up and a good manager and set of players. "So the one thing we won't be doing is treating them lightly because they have just come up from the First Division. "County are on great run of form at the moment.
"We have watched them on a number of occasions and the word coming back is that they're always very hard to beat. "They get behind the ball well with the 4-5-1 system they have but they can hit you quickly on the counter-attack which we have to watch for on the night. "So that makes it more difficult that we are the home team and have to try and take the game to them." United are without winger Gary Mackay-Steven, who is recovering from a recent knee operation.
Meanwhile, Mark Fotheringham is desperate to get started with his Ross County career after a summer spent trying to secure a Bundesliga place. The former Norwich and Dundee midfielder had spells on trial at Hoffenheim and Wolfsburg but returned to Scotland and has signed with the Dingwall club until the end of the season. Fotheringham will not feature in the clash with another of his former clubs Dundee United but he is eager to get started the following weekend when County host St Johnstone. Fotheringham, who had a previous spell in Germany with Freiburg, said: "I'm bursting to play because it's been frustrating watching games with the league starting here and in Europe.
"I spent time with Hoffenheim through Markus Babbel, the coach. He wanted to keep me but the chairman has a philosophy where he looks to bring in young players. It's quite scary at 28 when you're getting told you're an old player. "I was there for eight weeks and the coach fought to get me in the squad but Dietmar Hopp has the final say and he's done a fantastic job with the club and I respect his decision. "But he recommended me to Felix Magath at Wolfsburg. It was a great experience going to both teams and they made me feel really welcome and the standard of football was awesome.
"Wolfsburg had a team full of international players but I'm the type of guy who wants to play football. I'm not about to sit on my backside in September and wait for a so-called big move. "I want to earn the right to be part of Ross County and earn the right to be in the team." Manager Derek Adams hopes to have Mark Corcoran back from a groin strain.
Source: PA
