Donnelly: Still all to play for

The Tangerines' form has dipped in recent weeks with three defeats in their last four league outings - just when they were hoping to be firing on all cylinders ahead of Sunday's Scottish Cup quarter-final as well as next weekend's League Cup final with the Hoops.

But Donnelly reckons they are still well on course to have a successful season so long as they can recapture top form for what lies ahead, starting with this weekend's visit of Celtic.

Donnelly said: "It's all still to play for.

"There possibly has been an over-reaction.

"If you look at last season we had a sticky spell in December and January but came through it and I don't think this one is anything by comparison.

"We want to be higher, of course we do, we want to be up there challenging with Aberdeen.

"That's our goal and that's where we want to get to.

"At the moment we're fourth comfortably with games in hand over the teams above us and below.

"We're not looking behind us, though, we're looking to get closer to the top of the table.

"I'm not a big stats man, but this season we have scored more goals and won more games than 12 months ago."

One area Donnelly is looking for an improvement is at the back.

United's record of 38 goals conceded is by far the most of any of the top four sides in the Premiership, and 24 more than leaders Celtic.

Donnelly added: "We can improve, of course we can, and that's the aim - but we're in a better position than last year according to the wins and goals scored.

"Improving defensively is something we're working on. We have lost some players so the dynamics of the squad are different, but on the stats we're sitting in a better position in the league.

"People are maybe looking at the free-flowing football last season and think this year we're not doing as well.

"But the facts are there, this time last year we were out of the League Cup and we hadn't won as many games.

"So for us it's about looking at the positives and focusing on them.

"This week we have a Scottish Cup quarter-final, next weekend it's the League Cup final and then another big game against Celtic.

"So there are a lot of good things happening at the club, we're in back-to-back finals for the first time in a long time.

"The wee bit of negativity that has crept in has been on the back of a few poor performances, but the lads are desperate to make up for it."

Meanwhile, United central defender Callum Morris is a doubt with a thigh injury which has sidelined him in recent weeks.