McNamara Won't Blame Speculation

Photo by Jeff Holmes Jackie McNamara insists none of his wanted men were to blame for Dundee United's drab showing against St Mirren. The Tannadice men were lucky to hold on to a 1-1 draw in Paisley after Stuart Armstrong cancelled out Kenny McLean's opener for the hosts. The stalemate followed a week in which McNamara has had to deal with speculation and rumour about several members of his squad. Gary Mackay-Steven has already penned a pre-contract agreement with Celtic - while the Hoops have also been linked with playmaker Armstrong and striker Nadir Ciftci. But the Terrors boss refused to accept that was the problem against Saints. He said: "Was the speculation surrounding a few of the players an issue? I hope not. That's something I can't answer. "But I thought the ones who have had speculation about their futures, especially Armstrong was our best player tonight. "He got the goal but more than that, his running, his awareness, his tracking back - the little thing that people have questioned in the past - and show me he is learning and that he is a fantastic talent. "GMS (Mackay-Steven) as well in certain bits of the game. "There's been speculation over them and Nadir too. He didn't have his best of games and I thought he should have scored at least one goal but over the whole I don't think we can use the excuse of speculation." McLean scored a superb goal as he flicked the ball over Sean Dillon before squeezing a finish into the corner of the net with 38 minutes left. Armstong fired back within five minutes when he fired under Mark Ridgers but McLean missed a great chance to seal the win after the break when he pushed a shot wide when through on Radoslaw Cierzniak. Buddies caretaker boss Gary Teale, however, insists the midfielder is still destined for greater things. Teale - who confirmed Swindon's 21-year-old striker Myles Storey has arrived on trial with a view to a loan deal - said: "Since Kenny came back in the summer when he didn't move on, I've told him if can get his head back down and work on he will eventually get his move. "He's been very unfortunate. We had a £50,000 bid in from Fleetwood but it was nowhere near the valuation I hold him in. "We've seen the United lads from United linked with Celtic and Lewis Macleod go to Brentford and that's what Kenny should be looking at. "It sounds like I'm trying to sell him on but I'm not. He's a talented footballer and for me it's only a matter of time before he does go. I just hope for my own sake it is not until the summer. "He should be aiming at the Championship. I've played down there and for me he could walk into any of the sides in that division."