DUNDEE UNITED midfielder Declan Glass has applauded the debut of Craig Moore at Ibrox on Saturday, insisting that he himself was more nervous running out for his own first-team start against Dumbarton in the final minute of a game. 

It said much about 16-year-old Moore in central midfield that United manager Thomas Courts felt that that the Tannadice side lost something in their performance when he had to go off with 20 minutes to go because of a calf injury. 

“[He was] unbelievable, to be fair,” said Glass. “We were saying before the game that I made my debut at Dumbarton in the Championship. I got one minute at the end and never even touched the ball!  

“I think I was nervous. We were 3-0 up at Dumbarton and I was bricking it! And I was only getting on for a minute!  

‘No, to be fair, one thing you are always taught is that nothing should faze you. It’s a grass pitch at the end of the day. If you can narrow it down to being a grass pitch then you’ll be fine. 
“So for Craig to come here in front of 50,000 and make his debut at Ibrox is remarkable.   

“When I was coming back from my injury, I saw a bit of him training with the younger ones. He was always one of the stand-outs.  It’s great to see him here with the first team and hopefully his injury is not too serious.  

“I thought he was outstanding and him and his family should be really proud.”
It was a novel experience for 21-year-old Glass to be one of the older heads in Dundee United’s side at the weekend. Covid problems meant that the Tannadice side were without their first choice midfield while in total they were without around 13 players because of injury and Covid problems.
There was an assurance about the performance, though, and had Scott McMann not handled in the box to give the Ibrox a penalty there was a prevailing feeling that they would not have scored from open play.
“This is last year’s league champions and this year’s league leaders,” said Glass. “To go toe to toe with them with kids, it speaks volumes for everyone at this club, especially at a place with 50,000. Some of these kids haven’t played in front of 500 rather than 50,000. 

“It isn’t something I have experienced too often to be one of the senior ones. I thought we were excellent and I am extremely proud of all the young ones in there.”
And Glass admitted that while everyone took one look at Saturday’s team-sheet and feared the worst for United, the players themselves did not share that viewpoint. 

“I think everyone thought that but I don’t think we did,” he said. “We have all been brought up with no fear and that is how I feel. It is 11 v 11 on a football pitch and anything can happen. I think everyone feared the worst for us – they only ones who didn’t were us. We had hope and belief and if you are coming into games without belief you would be as well not playing. 
"It’s funny, when you look at youth teams it is very rare that good numbers come through.  
"There are fine margins in this game and not a lot of kids filter through to the first team. So to have that many on the pitch who are willing and capable does speak volumes for the academy.”