MARC McNulty has insisted that Dundee United are capable of clinching a top six Premiership finish in the second half of the 2020/21 season.

The Tannadice club, who returned to the top flight after a four year absence in the summer, are currently in fifth spot in the table.

McNulty, on loan at United from Reading, believes that Micky Mellon’s men can secure money-spinning ties against the leading teams in the country after the split in April.

Speaking ahead of the meeting with Aberdeen at Pittodrie this afternoon, he said: “We lost at Celtic, but we finished the year in fifth place and that is an achievement.

“You do have to remember that we are the new team in the division, the one that has been promoted.

“If you were to offer us a possible top six finish at the start of the season I think most fans, the players and the board would have bitten your hand off. What we have is something to build on in the second half of the campaign.

“To be there at this stage gives us confidence and now we hope to kick on and really cement out position in the table. It is good to be there going into 2021 and we can look forward to the new year with optimism.”

The 28-year-old has only netted once since moving to Tayside in October and is keen to increase his tally in the weeks ahead – starting in the game against Aberdeen today.

“There were a lot of negatives to take from the game on Wednesday because we got beaten by three goals,” he said. “But one of the positives was definitely the chances we did create. On a different day, I would have gotten a goal.

“We also had a wee penalty shout and Nicky Clark had a good chance. So that could have all added up. We should have been more ruthless and when we do get opportunities at Pittodrie we will have to take our chances.”

McNulty added: “As a player at this time of the year, you love the games especially if they are at places like Celtic Park and Pittodrie. That is why you play football - to be involved in tough tests like these.

“It was difficult to go to Parkhead in midweek and lose like we did but we have to move on quickly. The fixtures really do come thick and fast and you need to get points out of them. We have to regroup for Aberdeen now and refocus.”