He seems unlikely to start Saturday's QTS League Cup semi-final but if his new manager was looking for a super-sub who has good memories of contributing to victory over Aberdeen in a big match he may have recruited just the right man in Henri Anier.

The Estonian striker's first spell in Scottish spell ended in memorable fashion on the final day of last season when he came off the bench early in Motherwell's meeting with the Dons at Pittodrie in a match they needed to win to beat their hosts to finish second in the Premiership.

They duly did so, thanks to Craig Reid's injury time winner and Anier remembers it as a special occasion.

"It wasn't that great but we got a result," recalled the 24-year-old, who left Motherwell almost immediately thereafter to join German club Erzebirge Aue.

"To be honest there were great emotions after the game. I hadn't had these kind of emotions before in my life.

"We went into the game only with one thought, that we could get out from here and finish second and that's what happened.

"It was great to finish second with a last minute goal. If we drew we would have finished third, so it was great emotions and a great achievement for the club. Hopefully we can do the same here."

It is generally accepted that Motherwell's runners-up finishes in each of the last two campaigns were almost the equivalent of winning a tournament since Celtic were considered to be in pretty much a league of their own such was their dominant position following Rangers' collapse.

That, however, is part of what makes this season and this coming weekend all the more interesting because to date, at least, the champions have come under genuine pressure from, among other teams, the New Firm of Aberdeen and Anier's new club, Dundee United.

In terms of consistency it is almost impossible to back against Aberdeen given that they are unbeaten in 10 matches, a run stretching back to November and have collected 26 out of the last 30 Premiership points available to them.

Given that experience last season, when Motherwell were very much the underdogs as they headed north to meet a team that needed only a draw to hold them off, Anier could be forgiven for looking to embrace that role again. However when it was put to him that Aberdeen might be considered favourites on Saturday he demonstrated that he has quickly adjusted to attitudinal requirements at Tannadice, particularly in the context of this rivalry.

"Surely not..." he responded.

"I think we are going to the game wanting to get through to the final and win this cup. That's what the mentality should be of everybody in the team and that's how we go into the game."

Clearly it is an exciting time to join a club, but after two appearances, one as a substitute during the draw at St Mirren last week and getting close to a combined total of 90 minutes before he was replaced by Nadir Ciftci during Saturday's win over former club Motherwell, Anier seems to be under no illusion about his likelihood of starting the semi-final in acknowledging his lack of match fitness.

"These are the manager's things, how he decides to go now for the semi-final. Everybody will be up for it and definitely ready and these guys... you know, everybody wants to play that game and whoever goes out there, everybody will give 100 per cent anyway. We're all one team, he said, before offering a candid self-assessment.

"I think I'm getting better day by day.

"It's felt good in training so it was good to get 30 minutes in the first game against St Mirren. I didn't feel too bad and now I've started a game.

"It obviously wasn't easy because it's been a few months since my last proper game and I had a two week break at Christmas time. I wasn't happy myself, but I'll keep working and being positive and I'll be back soon.

"For me I'm just happy to have signed now and I just want to work and get my fitness back. I'm really happy that we got a result on Saturday and now it's a big game.

"You could say it's like a bonus (to have a big cup game so soon.) It's a massive game when I've just signed and these are early stages, but it's a great thing what's coming up so early and I think everybody will be ready for it."

His early impressions are that the environment is such that he can look forward to more weeks such as this as a United player, however.

"I've been here for just three or four training sessions, but it's a very positive group of lads and the way they play I think is very fluent, very open-minded. I think it will suit me and I think all the guys in the team enjoy that, starting from the goal-keeper and now training by training we get to know each other more and more," said Anier.

"When I was at Motherwell I knew their style of play and when I spoke with Jackie (McNamara, United's manager) before I signed it was exactly what was looking for. I enjoy this style of play and I think we can do well like this."