Louis Moult faces a race against time to be fit for Dundee United's Premiership showdown against Hibernian - but Kristijan Trapanovski could make a shock return to the first-team squad for the game. (The Courier)
Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.
Ronny Costello
Fan writer
Let's just get this out of the way... I'm not a fan of international breaks. Especially when your team is actually doing okay!
We've got three wins, three draws, and just one defeat under our belts. A solid points-per-game average of 1.71? Not bad at all! We're actually ahead of where most of us United fans thought we'd be after promotion... long may it continue!
This weekend, we're up against Hibs, who haven't managed a single win on the road in the league this season. And as if that wasn't enough, it looks like we'll be seeing a familiar face: Dylan Levitt is back at Tannadice for the first time since we sold him after relegation.
Now, don't get me wrong, Dylan's got talent. We saw that during his loan spell. But, if he wants to keep his seat warm on the Hibs bench for the whole match, I won't be losing any sleep over it!
As much as I grumble about the international break, it might have come at the right time. Our squad's looking a bit like a walking A&E department at the moment. Ross Graham's the latest to join the physio room, and h'’s probably out until the next Nations League break.
Big Ross has had plenty of coverage this season - and rightly so! He's been brilliant. Six league appearances, three goals... not bad for a defender. But it's not just his goals we're talking about; his work at the back, alongside Declan Gallagher and Manny Adegboyega (with Super Jack Walton in goal), has been top-class. That trio's helped us to three clean sheets and a big chunk of the 12 points we’ve racked up so far.
A few of our lads are away on international duty, and I wouldn't be upset if Will Ferry added a full Ireland cap to add to his under-18 and under-21 appearances when next months squads are named. The guy has been nothing short of sensational for us. The stats back it up, but honestly, just ask any fan. I’d be surprised if anyone didn’t pick him as our standout player so far.
Ronny Costello can be found at The Dode Fox Podcast, external
Dundee United academy director Scott Allison says losing top youngsters to English football is a reality as the impact of Brexit – with European youth stars now not on the agenda – means Scotland is being scouted aggressively. (The Courier)
Read the rest of Tuesday's gossip.
Dundee United will be without defender Ross Graham, 23, for a month after a scan revealed the hamstring injury he suffered against St Mirren is worse than first feared. (Courier - subscription), external
Meanwhile, United manager Jim Goodwin wants players who are out of contract at the end of the season to prove they deserve new deals at Tannadice. (Record), external
BBC Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering your questions.
Steve asked: If Celtic and Rangers struggle to compete in Europe then complain there's not enough competition to push them in the domestic league, is it time to have a change in revenue distribution in order to make the league more competitive?
Tom answered: You do hear that chat from fans of both clubs, Steve. As if it's the fault of Dundee United and others that they got horsed in Europe last week.
Some of these supporters want it all ways - they want other Scottish teams to be competitive against them in the Premiership so as to better prepare themselves for Europe, but they don't want the likes of Dundee United to be competitive enough so that they might challenge the duopoly. It's tiresome.
Ripping up the the financial distribution model would be a help. A radical reimagining of the finance in the Scottish game would be interesting. It won't change because any suggestion of change would get vetoed if anybody tried.
The big two don't really want change. The status quo works very nicely for them.
And when results in Europe are bad, there's always the fallback option of pointing to an uncompetitive league that they could make a bit more competitive if they wanted to, but don't want to. Round and round we go.
BBC Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering your questions.
Calum asked: Really happy with what United have done so far this season but it could be better. What would you suggest United do to get the best out of our strikers? Seems they don't like taking shots at goal.
Tom answered: Hi Calum. This is a really odd one, isn't it? Dundee United are going well under Jim Goodwin, but the striker situation is curious.
I've checked with Opta and in the league Jort van der Sande has had only two attempts on goal (one on target) in seven Premiership games this season. It's remarkable.
Is that solely down to him or is there a creative issue in this team? Goodwin has assembled a nice team, but it looks like one whose main strengths lie in being hard to beat rather than flamboyance further up the park. Nothing wrong with that, strong foundations are essential. You can't achieve anything without them.
Obviously, Louis Moult has scored a couple of times and others are chipping in here and there, but to take it up a level maybe they need to sign in January.
They need their own Ronan Hale, or somebody of that ilk. There are few good ones in Ireland. I'd bet Big Jim has his eyes on one or two.
In: Richard Odada, midfielder (Philadelphia Union); Jort van der Sande, forward (Den Haag); Meshack Ubochioma, forward (Zalaegerszegi); David Babunski, midfielder (Mezokovesdi Sport Egyesulet); Ryan Strain, defender (St Mirren); Kristijan Trapanovski, forward (Shkupi); Vicko Sevelj, defender (Radomlje); Will Ferry, defender (Cheltenham Town); Dave Richards, goalkeeper (Crewe Alexandra).
Loan in: Luca Stephenson, defender (Liverpool); Emmanuel Adegboyega, defender (Norwich City); Jack Walton, goalkeeper (Luton Town, loan return); Sam Dalby, forward (Wrexham).
Out: Brandon Forbes, forward (Norwich City, undisclosed); Archie Meekison, defender (Bohemian); Sadat Anaku, forward (Sadat Anaku, forward (Kampala Capital City Authority); Scott McMann, defender (Ayr United); David Wotherspoon, midfielder (Dunfermline Athletic); Logan Chalmers, forward (Partick Thistle); Chris Mochrie, midfielder (Dundee United); Layton Bisland, defender (Arbroath); Declan Glass, midfielder (Cove Rangers); Flynn Duffy, defender (Inverness Caledonian Thistle); Keir Bertie, midfielder (Montrose); Kai Smith, midfielder (Elgin City); Liam Grimshaw, midfielder; Mark Birighitti, goalkeeper; Craig Moore, midfielder; Flynn Duffy, defender.
Loan ended: Alex Greive, forward (St Mirren); Jordan Tillson, midfielder (Ross County); Sam McClelland, defender (St Johnstone).
Loan out: Tony Watt, forward (Motherwell); Rory MacLeod, forward (Southampton); Jack Newman, goalkeeper (Inverness Caledonian Thistle); Lewis O’Donnell, midfielder (Queen of the South); Sam Cleall-Harding, defender (Kelty Hearts); Ruairidh Adams, goalkeeper (Kelty Hearts); Adam Carnwath, midfielder (Cumbernauld Colts); Sean Borland, midfielder (Cumbernauld Colts); Bryan Mwangi, midfielder (Broxburn Athletic).
Read the Scottish Premiership ins & outs in full here.
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Who has been the top performer so far? Is the manager living up to expectations?
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Dundee United will be taking a sense of satisfaction into this latest international break.
If manager Jim Goodwin takes a step back to assess the campaign so far, he will rightly be very content with what he has seen.
Having been promoted from the Championship, United will have been viewed by some as a team destined for a scrap at the wrong end of the table.
The early evidence suggests something very different. The Tangerines find themselves in the lofty position of fifth, already 10 points clear of the team that finished third last term, Hearts.
Of course there is room for improvement, but one thing that has become clear as the games have ticked by is that Goodwin has assembled a team that appears to know how to get the job done.
The fact they have only lost one of their opening seven Premiership matches bears testament to that. They won ugly at St Mirren last time out, prior to that they came back to secure a very unlikely looking point at Kilmarnock.
That ability to get something – as opposed to nothing – from games which have the potential to go either way is a quality that can carry a team a long way.
Former Dundee United striker Sadat Anaku has returned to Ugandan side Kampala Capital City Authority after an injury-hit spell at Tannadice came to an end in the summer. (The Courier - subscription required, external)
Read the rest of Wednesday's Scottish gossip.
Paul McNicoll
Fan writer
We've now reached the second international break of the season and, similar to the first one, we've won the game just before the hiatus.
Back at the start of September we travelled to Tynecastle and won. Now, at the start of October, United have travelled to Paisley and won. Clean sheets in both no less.
Make no mistake, United have done very well up to now. We're seven games into the league campaign and have amassed 12 points. I think all Arabs would have taken that before a ball was kicked back in August. So let's dish out some credit.
In the main, the players have been excellent. Sure, the performances have not all been scintillating, but what they have been is hard working, gritty, determined, roll-the-sleeves-up-and-compete-for-everything kind of performances.
Be strong defensively and you'll give yourself a chance in every game. Sounds simple, but it takes a lot of work to pull it off, so hats off to the team for doing so.
Now to the gaffer. Jim Goodwin wasn't every United fan's cup of tea when he was hired and, truth be told, he still isn't.
But he inherited a team two years ago that had little to none of the qualities of the current squad, and in his time at Tannadice, he has essentially overseen two rebuilds.
The first won the Championship at the first time of asking, and now this season's side, so far, do not look out of place in the top flight.
There will undoubtedly be choppier waters to navigate as the season continues, but this team and manager appear to have the heart, fight and desire to stand up to the upcoming challenges and any testing times that lie ahead.
Paul McNicoll can be found at the Dode Fox Podcast, external
Dundee United defender Declan Gallagher will never give up on a Scotland recall but reckons team-mate Ross Graham could beat him to it. (Courier - subscription), external
Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.
Sportscene pundits Michael Stewart and Shelley Kerr analyse Dundee United's winning goal against St Mirren.
Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter
Emmanuel Adegboyega was Dundee United's match winner in Paisley and a real battler in defence.
It's been a solid start overall for United in their return to the top flight and Adegboyega has more than played his part.
Watch highlights as Dundee United win 1-0 against St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.
Image source, SNSEmmanuel Adegboyega celebrates his match-winning strike
Dundee United match-winner Emmanuel Adegboyega reckons his side showed an 'extra level' to overcome St Mirren on the road.
The Norwich City loanee opened his account for Jim Goodwin's side to win the game against the Buddies in the final 15 minutes of the game.
“Yeah, I'm absolutely delighted to get my first goal for Dundee United," he told club media.
"I had a feeling it was coming in the first half, so to actually get it at the end of the day is great.
“I've always [been] told to follow in the ball, regardless of what position you're playing. So as Doc had a strike at goal, I just said, yeah, follow the ball in, it could rebound anything that happens. So that's exactly what I did.
“Since the start of the season, I’ve been trying to come up with a celebration. So I think my trademark is now the knee slide, so I just had to pull it out.
“St Mirren, they're a good side, you know, physical, strong, aggressive.
"So not only do we have to match it, but we have to go to an extra level against them away from home as well. So we had to show our stuff."