Tam Scobbie felt he had let Ray McKinnon down after playing just one league game before the man who brought him to Dundee United was sacked.

Scobbie suffered a groin injury after opening the Ladbrokes Championship season with victory at Inverness and McKinnon lost his position as manager days before he returned to the team.

Scobbie told ArabZone: "I phoned Ray and was quite apologetic because I felt like I had let him down because I wasn't able to be involved for the 10 weeks. He obviously had tremendous faith in bringing me here and I was disappointed I wasn't able to be part of it.

"But these things happen in football and he totally understood. But I felt really disappointed for Ray and myself and the team that I wasn't able to be there and try to help out through the sticky patches we had.

"But the boys have had to dig in and deal with that and we have moved on. I'm sure the club will be appointing a new manager soon which all the boys are looking forward to, and we can kick on and look forward to Saturday."

Laurie Ellis remains in caretaker charge of United while the likes of Csaba Laszlo, John Hughes and Jim McIntyre are linked with the post.

Ellis restored Scobbie to the team for a 2-0 win at Dumbarton last weekend and has a chance to avenge United's 3-0 defeat by St Mirren when the leaders visit Tannadice on Saturday.

Scobbie said: "We suffered a tough time there so Laurie has been working on a few things that can help us going into the game. He has been working for the past two weeks on certain things he feels haven't been up to scratch and I think it paid off on Saturday against Dumbarton."

Morton signed 19-year-old striker Ben Armour on an extended deal until the end of the season ahead of the visit of Queen of the South. Jai Quitongo will be assessed after going off with a muscle problem against St Mirren.

Inverness are looking for a third consecutive win when they travel to Livingston while Falkirk host Dunfermline in a derby match. Dumbarton have Craig Barr suspended for their trip to bottom club Brechin.