New signing Allan keen to take chance at Celtic

The Hoops come into the match at Tannadice just three days after their 3-2 defeat of Swedish champions Malmo FF in the first leg of their Champions League play-off.

Qualification for Europe's elite competition is a top priority for manager Ronny Deila after missing out last season and the Celtic manager may rest a number of key players for the match with Tuesday's return leg in Sweden in mind.

This may present an opportunity for new signing Scott Allan to make his debut for the Scottish champions after he joined from Hibernian last week.

The 23-year-old midfielder was paraded at Celtic Park before the 4-2 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle last weekend and he is keen to show what he can do if he is called upon to face former club United on Saturday.

"I'm raring to go and start playing my football now, getting my head down and working hard to try and get myself into the team," said Allan, who joined Celtic for £275,000 ($431,000) despite serious interest from Rangers, the club he supported as a boy.

"I just hope I can come in and offer something different. Celtic play quick on the break and there is a lot of pace in the team. When you've got that pace in the team and with people making runs, it's easier to make the passes so that will suit me.

"Watching the game against Inverness has whetted my appetite and given me that extra bit of eagerness to get in the team and show what I can do. I'm sure if I work hard I'll get the chance and if it comes I'll take it."

Celtic, who sit second in the league after starting their defence of the title with three wins and a draw, will be without Swedish defender Mikael Lustig, who picked up an injury in midweek.

- United look for reaction -

Their start is in stark contrast to that of opponents United, who have just four points from four games.

Manager Jackie McNamara, a former Celtic player, says he is looking for a positive reaction from his side following last weekend's heavy 4-0 defeat by Hamilton Academical.

"I think it will be a great game for everyone to be involved in. As a player you want to play against the best players whether it be domestic or European. It's one we'll relish," said McNamara, whose United side have lost their last four meetings with Celtic by an aggregate score of 12-0.

"Obviously we know the difficulty of the task and we need to do things a lot better than we did last weekend."

Elsewhere on Saturday, leaders Hearts will attempt to continue their 100 percent start to the campaign when they take on Partick Thistle at a packed Tynecastle while Aberdeen will hope to make it four wins out of four when they welcome Dundee to Pittodrie.

In the second-tier Championship, leaders Rangers host fellow promotion hopefuls Hibernian at Ibrox on Sunday.

Fixtures (1400 GMT unless otherwise stated)

Saturday

Dundee United v Celtic (1100 GMT), Aberdeen v Dundee, Hearts v Partick Thistle, Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Hamilton Academical, Kilmarnock v Ross County, St Johnstone v Motherwell