Neil Lennon has had to be content with making his plans for the game with Dundee United without having players to try things out with. The midweek international games meant that Lennon had to cope without a team and substitutes this week. In addition to Lennon's injury worries, the international break has left him with little time to plan for the game against United. Lennon said on Friday: "We had 16 players away this week and I have not seen the majority of them until today. We are training this afternoon, so we have had no preparation work for this game at all. We might have to rejig the team a bit but I'm sure the boys who come in will do a good job for us. Dundee United have lost a lot of players in the last year and a half but Peter (Houston) seems to keep reinventing the team. They are unbeaten this season and their away form is pretty decent so it will be a difficult game for us. They took points off us last season so we will have to be wary of that."
One positive from the international week was the scintillating performance of Paddy McCourt, who scored a brace in Northern Ireland's 4-0 victory over the Faroe Islands. However, Lennon denied the former Derry City playerhas given him food for thought. He said: "Not really because I know Paddy can do that. I was delighted for him. He wasn't sure he would start the game so I am pleased for him. It gave Northern Ireland a boost and he made a huge contribution and entertained the crowd which is what he can do. So he will come back full of the joys of spring. He would probably like to play more games but he is a valuable member of the squad. He has just got to be patient like everybody else, the chance will come along and if it does he has just got to take it."