Dundee United defenders Scott Severin and Darren Dods could be set for a spell on the sidelines after learning they need surgery. Severin has been missing with an ankle problem and will need a tidy-up operation, while Dods - who has been battling a knee injury - is also needing a minor procedure to aid his recovery.

The pair will be booked into hospital this week so are likely to face further time on the sidelines.

Boss Peter Houston, whose side face St Mirren on Wednesday night, said: "Scott Severin has had an x-ray and he's going to need a wee tidy up on his ankle.

"So that's likely to keep him out for a few weeks more, which is a blow because he's been playing well for us.

"He will be booked in as soon as possible so hopefully we'll know by tomorrow just exactly when he can get it done.

"And Darren Dods is also going back to his specialist and there's a chance he'll also need a clean-up job on his knee.

"His options are to leave it for a few weeks to see how it settles down or go for the operation.

"I think he'll opt for the latter one because we don't want to wait another few weeks and find out he needs it anyway.

"It's not the best news from the team's point of view but we'll just have to get on with it. The positives to take from it are that Garry Kenneth and Sean Dillon have been playing well.

"Sean has proved he's so versatile, playing in a number of positions for the team and with the form he's in at the moment I'm not sure anyone would be able to dislodge him from the side."