Declan Gallagher is in a race against time to be fit for Dundee United’s crucial upcoming clash with Hibernian, after a back injury kept him out of the starting XI in Saturday’s 5-0 loss to Celtic.
Manager Jim Goodwin revealed that the 34-year-old defender hadn’t trained all week but was still willing to play through the pain. However, Goodwin opted for a more mobile pairing of Vicko Sevelj and Emmanuel Adegboyega to match Celtic’s pace and play a high defensive line — a tactical move he now admits didn’t work.
“If I needed the big man to play, then he would have played through the pain,” said Goodwin. “We just tried a different approach… but one or two moments turned the game on its head.”
The result leaves United needing a strong response in the run-in, where Gallagher, despite his imminent departure this summer, remains key to the club’s promotion ambitions.
“Deccy has been a huge part of what we’ve done this season… We’re hoping he’ll make a recovery in time for the game against Hibs,” Goodwin added.
With four matches left, Gallagher’s leadership and experience will be vital — but it all depends on how his back holds up in the coming days.
Would you like an injury update prediction or possible defensive line-up options if Gallagher doesn’t recover in time?
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