Dundee United have Andy Webster available again for the New Year visit of Aberdeen. Under the terms of his loan from Ibrox the defender had to stand aside from any involvement in Wednesday night's game which ended in a 7-1 win for Rangers. Goalkeeper Nicky Weaver will play his last game for United, with his short-term deal ending on Monday, while Lee Wilkie (knee), Francisco Sandaza  and Scott Robertson (both groin) are all posted missing through injury. 

Aberdeen are hoping to have managed to register the signing of Manchester City midfielder Paul Marshall on loan in time for him to be involved today. Defender Maurice Ross, whose short-term contract ends later this month, faces a late fitness test. Due to the postponement of the Dons' last two games he has had extra time to recover from his hamstring injury. That silver lining surrounds the cloud over Jerel Ifil's return from suspension and the wait for the start of Lee Miller's ban, while Sone Aluko (stomach) and Zander Diamond (broken nose) are still out of contention for a game.

Meanwhile, Dons` director of football Willie Miller insists he has made the best offer he can to Charlie Mulgrew. Dead-ball specialist Mulgrew is reportedly a target for big-spending First Division leaders Dundee as he enters the final six months of his Pittodrie deal which means he is now is free to sign a pre-contract elsewhere. Miller said: "Dundee are perfectly within their rights to make approaches for players who are out of contract in the summer. We have offered Mulgrew a very good deal in an attempt to get him to remain at the club. We have offered him a new, improved deal because he is a player we want. If he wants to stay then, hopefully, he will sign that deal. If he was to accept, we would be delighted. But if he decides not to it's up to him to negotiate an offer with another club. If that becomes the case we will find a replacement as we have done for other players in the past. That is the nature of football."