Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin faces a race to be on the touchline for this weekend's match against Kilmarnock after a health scare. Goodwin was taken ill and admitted to hospital on Thursday, casting doubt over his involvement in the Premiership fixture at Rugby Park.
Assistant manager Lee Sharp confirmed the situation to the Daily Record Football, stating the boss was kept in for observation. "The manager wasn’t feeling well yesterday, he went to the hospital and they have kept him in for observation," Sharp said. Goodwin missed Friday's training session as a result, with Sharp taking the session and handling media duties ahead of the trip to face Killie.
What is Jim Goodwin's current condition?
Jim Goodwin remains in hospital undergoing tests, but his assistant reports he is in good spirits. Sharp has spoken to the manager a couple of times and indicated Goodwin is frustrated about potentially missing the game against Kilmarnock. The club is hopeful he could be released from hospital on Friday or Saturday morning, but his presence in the dugout remains uncertain. More tests were being run to determine the cause of his illness.
Who will take charge if Goodwin is absent?
Lee Sharp is prepared to lead the team at Rugby Park if Jim Goodwin is not discharged in time. This is not a new situation for the assistant, who has stepped in for Goodwin on previous occasions. Sharp took temporary charge during the Covid-19 pandemic when Goodwin was isolating and has also led the team when the manager was serving a suspension in the stand. The two work closely together, and Sharp confirmed Goodwin had already selected the team for the Kilmarnock match, describing a couple of the selection decisions as "debatable."
What is the context for Kilmarnock in this match?
For Kilmarnock, the visit of Dundee United comes at a critical early point in the season. As of 29 August 2026, Derek McInnes's side sits 12th in the Scottish Premiership with zero points from their opening two games. Their recent form shows two consecutive losses, and they have conceded nine goals while scoring four, giving them a goal difference of minus five. They are already six points behind league leaders Celtic in the nascent title race. The full league picture is available on our standings page.
What happens next for Kilmarnock after this game?
Regardless of the outcome against Dundee United, Kilmarnock's focus will quickly turn to their next fixture. They host St Mirren at Rugby Park on 2 September 2026. St Mirren currently sit third in the table, presenting another tough challenge for Killie as they search for their first points of the campaign. The club's upcoming schedule can be tracked on our dedicated fixtures list. The immediate priority is preparing for a Dundee United side that, while dealing with managerial uncertainty, will be organised and ready following a normal week of training under Lee Sharp's guidance.
