Source: Team_Talk
Goodwillie set for United axe
Dundee United manager Peter Houston is set to drop David Goodwillie for the trip to Hamilton following a disturbance in Glasgow this week.[LNB] Goodwillie, who has scored in each of United's last five SPL matches, and 18-year-old midfielder Scott Allan were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning, along with two other men.[LNB]Allan, who has been on loan at Forfar, was charged with assault to severe injury when he appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Thursday, the Crown Office said.[LNB]Striker Goodwillie was freed from police custody and did not appear in court.[LNB]Midfielder Danny Swanson has been ruled out of Saturday's match at Hamilton with a facial injury allegedly sustained during the incident.[LNB]Houston, who today received a letter from the Scottish Football Association asking him to explain comments made about referee Dougie McDonald following last month's controversial meeting with Celtic, has spoken to the players concerned and the club will deal with the matter internally.[LNB]"It's been a difficult week," Houston said on Friday. "I don't want to speak about anything with regards to the incident that happened in Glasgow, other than to say I'm disappointed and feel a bit let down.[LNB]"I've spoken to the individual players with regards to how we conduct ourselves at Dundee United.[LNB]"They're young players, very young players. Immature, obviously, still.[LNB]"You look at the big picture and deal with it accordingly.[LNB]"There have been restrictions imposed on them.[LNB]"Early next week I'll speak to the chairman, because they will be due some sort of fine."[LNB]Swanson, who has been struggling with sciatica in his back, will not play on Saturday at New Douglas Park, but Goodwillie and Barry Douglas, also understood by United to have been involved in the alleged incident, will be in the squad.[LNB]With United's youngsters in action, their selection is more about necessity than anything else.[LNB]Houston said: "They are all in the squad for tomorrow, simply because we have a Scottish Youth Cup tie at Hearts and with the injuries that I've got they need to be or I wouldn't be able to field 18 stripped players."[LNB]Goodwillie netted the winner against Hibernian last week after being set up by Swanson, taking his tally to seven goals in nine games in all competitions.[LNB]Houston, though, suggested he is likely to drop Goodwillie from his starting XI.[LNB]"If he's not going to be playing, he's not going to be able to keep that run of form up," said the manager.[LNB]Houston's week became worse this morning when he received the expected letter from the SFA asking him to explain comments in relation to referee McDonald in the immediate aftermath of the loss to Celtic at Tannadice on October 17 - the ramifications of which have rumbled on for almost three weeks now.[LNB]"I've been asked for my comments with regards to me talking about the referee," added Houston, who is the Scotland assistant boss.[LNB]"I'll answer the three questions they've asked me to answer by November 12."[LNB]Houston anticipates Saturday's match against Accies will be the latest test of a tough week.[LNB]"Hamilton are one of the most difficult teams to beat in the league," he said.[LNB]"We know we never get an easy game against Hamilton, home or away.[LNB]"It's nothing less than we expect tomorrow."
