DUNDEE UNITED manager Liam Fox says he will look to replace Tony Watt if he does exit the club in the coming days, after leaving the forward out of his side’s defeat to Celtic.

Watt wasn’t included in the matchday squad amid speculation over his future, with reported interest in the former Celtic and Motherwell man from Belgium, where he has already played during his career.

Fox will wait and see what develops with Watt’s situation before making a move for a replacement, but says he will have the backing of the club to bring in reinforcements should Watt depart.

“There has been a wee bit of movement with Tony over the last 24 hours,” Fox said.

“I just didn't think it was fair on the group, on the football club, or for Tony to be in the squad. We will see what happens in the next couple of days.

“First, we need Tony Watt to go first. If that’s the case, it will be an option for us [to bring someone else in]. I don’t want to leave us short in any position. But until someone moves it’s difficult to say.”

Fox was disappointed in the manner of the first goal United conceded in defeat to Celtic, and frustrated that the match followed a similar pattern to the recent defeat to Rangers at Tannadice, with two quickfire second half goals undoing a lot of good defensive work by his side.

“I think there were a couple of things,” he said.

“We didn’t stop the cross. I’ve not spoken to him but maybe Mark (Birighitti) just misjudged it a bit. The wind might have played a part as well because the wind was bad today and we dropped the runner for the header. So there were three things.

“It’s not just on Mark. There were things before and after it. But goals change games. I have no complaints about the second one. It was a handball and we need to take it on the chin.

“I felt out of possession we were good like we were against Rangers. We probably were not brave enough in possession. We did not ask enough questions of Celtic.

“There is lots to learn and lots to work on but we don’t have much time for that because we are looking forward to the next game. Come Wednesday night we will be ready to go [against Kilmarnock].”