LUCA WILL ALWAYS PLAY THROUGH PAIN FOR UNITED

LUCA STEPHENSON could have been forgiven for wanting to head straight for the dressing room when he was smashed in the face not once but twice against St Mirren on Saturday.

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IN THE WARS Stephenson feels the pain in Saturday's victory

Dundee United's on-loan Liverpool midfielder was caught by Buddies skipper Mark O'Hara and was hit again later on, leaving him with blood pouring from his mouth because of a painful gum injury and a suspected broken nose.

However, during his first spell at Tannadice last season, Stephenson was left in absolute agony just kicking the ball because of a double hernia problem.

So he was determined to play through the pain barrier once more for as long as possible against the Buddies.

The 22-year-old finally had to call it quits in the 67th minute and although he will be seeing a dentist at the end of this week, he is determined to take his place in the United starting lineup against Motherwell at Fir Park tonight.