Houston hopes for fitness boost

Peter Houston says Dundee United's walking wounded are queuing up to declare themselves fit for their Scottish Cup semi-final against Raith. United have flourished this season despite a a run of injuries that has threatened to undermine both their cup quest and push for third place in the Scottish Premier League.Manager Houston looked set to face a defensive injury crisis for Sunday's game at Hampden, with Garry Kenneth suspended and both Andy Webster and Mihael Kovacevic struggling for fitness.But the United boss had good news this afternoon on captain Webster and full-back Kovacevic, who were thought to be major doubts with respective calf and hamstring problems.Revealing on-loan Rangers centre-back Webster had undergone a scan which showed no damage, Houston said: "It's a nerve problem coming from his lower-back/buttock area."He's been working today with a chiropractor to knock him into shape again and he'll get a wee bit of acupuncture."So, from a situation where I definitely thought he was going to be out with a calf injury, he's very, very hopeful now."He knows he's not going to tear his calf and be out for longer."He might be in the squad so that'll be a big bonus."Houston revealed Kovacevic had trained today and was waiting to see if there was any reaction from his hamstring.Should the Swiss and Webster prove their fitness, it would leave Scott Robertson as United's only definite injury absentee after striker Danny Cadamarteri returned from a three-month lay-off in Monday's SPL win at St Johnstone."It's funny how we've got a semi-final and everybody's starting to be fit again," Houston joked."That's a pleasant thing for me and I hope I've got a full squad of players to choose from, apart from Garry Kenneth."If I've got that then it gives me a problem, but it's a great problem to have."Notwithstanding club captain Lee Wilkie's early retirement, there has been plenty of good news at Tannadice in recent months.Indeed, the return of key players from injury has co-incided with United's best form of the season.Unbeaten in eight and on a run of four straight victories in all competitions, it is a far cry from the turn of the year, when Craig Levein's departure threatened to derail their entire campaign.Houston's first few matches as interim manager were a chastening experience for Scotland boss Levein's long-time lieutenant.He explained today how the Scottish Cup proved his salvation, pointing to January's 2-0 win at Partick Thistle - set up by a controversial handball goal from Damian Casalinuovo - as the spark that reignited the club's faltering season."The turning point for me was our very first Scottish Cup tie," Houston said."We got a break, there was a handball."Sometimes you get wee breaks and things change."I've felt that since that game, we've turned the corner a wee bit."Confidence was really high after that."We've never looked back since."United will be heavy favourites to beat First Division Raith and reach their first Scottish Cup final for five years.But Houston said: "The big thing for me on Sunday is that we've got a group of players who won't take anything for granted."Just because it's Raith Rovers, we certainly won't think we only need to turn up."We need to be at it 100% because I've got a lot of respect for Raith Rovers, their manager and their team."I know some of their players as well personally."It's going to be a difficult game and we don't look forward any further than that semi-final."

Source: Team_Talk