Josh Meekings will return from an injury suffered while putting on a jumper when Inverness host Dundee United on Wednesday.

The defender suffered a freak back injury before Caley Thistle's 3-2 win over Hearts on Saturday and was replaced by Danny Devine.

But he gets a swift chance to return for the SPL's second-placed side as fellow centre-back Gary Warren is suspended.

Inverness boss Terry Butcher said: "Josh is fine. He just tweaked his back putting his jumper on.

"I think he has been putting cardigans on thereafter.

"It was a freak injury but it didn't affect us. Danny Devine came in and played very, very well.

"Unfortunately Gary is out which is disappointing because Gary has been such an influential leader for us.

"With the two goals he got on Saturday as well, he was looking to add to his tally against Dundee United.

"It's his first break of the season, he has played in every minute of every game, all 34.

"Only Graeme Shinnie has done the same so Graeme will go one better than Gary.

"It's great when you have people that can give you that level of performance week in, week out.

"Gary will come back for the Higland derby on Saturday and Josh Meekings will come back. We still have that settled side and a side that is hungry to stay in second place."

Inverness have scored eight goals in two games against United this season and Tannadice manager Jackie McNamara is looking for defensive improvement following their 2-2 draw with Hibernian on Sunday.

"Hopefully we have learned our lesson from that point of view," McNamara said.

"It's something we have to work on and have got to do better.

"Inverness have been playing well this season and thoroughly deserve to be where they are in the league, which is second top.

"They score a lot of goals so obviously we want to keep things tight at the back and not help them in any way."