YOUTH POLICY CONTINUES AGAINST MOTHERWELL

In anticipation of today's SPL clash with Motherwell, Manager Alex Smith expressed optimism that his team would be able to build on last Saturday's victory over Hibernian: "It goes without saying that beating Motherwell will not be an easy task - they have proven tough nuts to crack ever since the management team of Eric Black and Terry Butcher took over just prior to our last meeting with them when we drew 1-1. We will try our best to gain another three league points today in a game that will give us a further opportunity to continue our strategy of introducing one or two more young players this season, an aim that is much more difficult to fulfil in the earlier stages of a campaign. It is really important for Dundee United to encourage and blood youngsters in order for them to progress and develop into first team players. Of course, this is not a new policy for Dundee United as they have been renowned for this type of thinking for many years. It has however now become crucial for all clubs to go into this direction, and it pleases me no end that we have a reservoir of players to develop."

"Today, Danny Ogunmade (pictured) will have an opportunity to play his first game at this level, and we are still deliberating whether he might even be involved right from the start. Danny is a very fast and exciting young winger who I am sure will be a supporters' favourite. Hopefully, we will also include skipper Griffin in the line-up. He will play for a period of the game before travelling midweek for the international against Spain."