Alex Smith is considering throwing "no-nonsense" Jamie Fullarton in for a city derby debut against Dundee at Tannadice this afternoon. The 26-year-old former St Mirren, Bastia and Crystal Palace midfield dynamo put pen to paper on a deal which will keep him on Tayside until the end of the season - at least. Smith sees his latest acquisition as the ideal type to help United out of the relegation mire they have dug themselves into during their miserable "no- win" league run to date this season. The United supremo described Fullarton as "Jim Mcinally, Mark II", a comparison sure to delight those amongst the Tangerines support who remember the contribution made by "Mark I" during the glory days of the 80s and early 90s.

Smith said: "Jamie will complement players like Charlie Miller, Dave Hannah and Craig Easton. When we have the ball he will adopt the holding role, and when we are defending he knows exactly what his job is. "He is in the mould of Jim Mcinally and Billy McKinlay, and this club has probably been lacking that type of player since they departed." Smith spent last night considering whether or not to offer Fullarton a starting jersey in the derby, but the player himself is keen to get straight down to business. He said: "I came here to play and the sooner the better.

I do not want to be knocking at the gaffer's door on my very first day, so I am happy to leave the decision to him. I am ready if he picks me." FULLARTON relish- es the thought of a derby debut, but claims that he can also see the bigger picture at Tannadice. He added: "The fans clearly want to win these games against their local rivals, but the big thing for United is to start winning - and quickly." ©Daily Express