Dundee midfielders Nicky Riley and Iain Davidson return from injury and suspension respectively for Saturday's SPL clash with Aberdeen at Dens Park.
Skipper Stephen O'Donnell has suffered no adverse reaction to his long-awaited comeback from a hamstring injury midweek and Lewis Toshney is free to play after being ineligible for the game against his parent club.
But the hosts are still without Steven Milne (stomach), Davide Grassi, Carl Finnigan, Mark Kerr (all knee) and Jamie McLuskey (Achilles).
Aberdeen have Stephen Hughes, Rob Milsom and Ryan Fraser available following injury.
The midfielder trio have been added to the squad for the trip to Dens Park after spending a number of weeks out of contention.
Ryan Jack, Rob Milsom, Chris Clark, Gary Naysmith and Isaac Osbourne remain out of action.
The Tangerines have failed to win at home since August 19, when they triumphed 3-0 over city rivals Dundee, but they have since found it tough going on home soil with a succession of draws hampering their season.
United shared the spoils with Tayside neighbours St Johnstone in a Boxing Day 1-1 draw at Tannadice, that result coming after Houston's men threw away a 3-0 lead against Inverness, needing a late Jon Daly penalty to secure a 4-4 draw.
Now the Tangerines have a chance to make amends when Danny Lennon's Buddies visit on Sunday, and Houston wants to see his side end 2012 with a home victory.
He said: "It would be the ideal way to finish the year.
"We're looking to get a home win for ourselves and, of course, for the fans.
"Our home form obviously hasn't been what we'd like and we should have taken more points from certain games this season.
"But there's no point dwelling on it too much.
"What we have to try and do is go out there and get the three points which would make everyone associated with the club happy.
"I'm sure the fans will turn out in good numbers again so it's important we do everything possible to give them something to show for our efforts."
Houston watched his side relinquish an early lead through Gavin Gunning's header against Steve Lomas' Saints on Wednesday, with Brian McLean's own goal ensuring it finished honours even on Tayside.
But now he is challenging his side to make sure they do not slip up again against their Paisley visitors.
He said: "It was disappointing again the way we didn't take all three points. When you go ahead at home you always look to see things out.
"It's been the story of our season but hopefully if we get our noses in front we can go on to finish the job off properly.
"We had chances against St Johnstone but it's no good saying this and that.
"We have to try and be more ruthless in attack and make sure we don't give anything away at the back.
"I've got a good group of honest boys in the dressing room.
"I know they'll give me everything which will in turn hopefully lead to us getting some better fortune in games at home."
Meanwhile, United full-back Keith Watson hopes to recover in time to face the Buddies after picking up a shoulder injury in the Tayside derby.
Winger Gary Mackay-Steven is still out of action after breaking his hand while Sean Dillon is set to be sidelined again as he struggles to get over a thigh injury.
Rovers sacked Henning Berg on Thursday after 57 days at the helm and a run of one win in 10 matches that leaves the pre-season Championship promotion favourites 17th in the table heading into Saturday's trip to Barnsley.
Assistant manager Eric Black, first-team coach Iain Brunskill and goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms were also dismissed and reports emerged on Friday morning that Singh took Friday training alongside Judan Ali - a novice coach with experience limited to youth and amateur level and the star of Bollywood football movie 'Dhan Dhan Dhan Goal'.
Singh quashed rumours that Ali was set to take up a position at Ewood Park, insisting his presence at Blackburn's Brockhall Village training base was that of a guest despite television footage of the 39-year-old wearing club training kit.
He told Sky Sports News: "No, no - he's a guest of the club and, no, there's been no appointments, there's been no signings. None at all.
"That's rumour and speculation at the end of the day, what can I say?
"Please, I am serious now, no it's not true."
When contacted, Blackburn stated no decision had been made on who would take the team at Oakwell, but Singh offered a glowing assessment of reserve team boss Gary Bowyer and his staff when denying he himself took training on Friday.
"We've got capable people," he said. "This club is well run, we've got proper people.
"Gary Bowyer has been reserve team and Under-21 manager for two years, he's been at the club for eight years.
"Terry McPhillips, Tony Grant (both youth coaches) - these are great guys. They've been working so hard behind the scenes and people don't realise all the good work that they've put in.
"So nothing of that sort (Singh and Ali taking training), it's been business as usual."
Quotes attributed to Balaji Rao, managing director of the Venky's group that owns Blackburn, emerged on Friday afternoon stating that a manager with "Premier League experience" would be appointed after the Barnsley game - something else Singh insists is wide of the mark.
He added: "I can safely say that is not true because I was on the phone with him. I've been on the phone with him all morning and no, it's not true.
"Someone's just decided to be mischievous about it so, no, it's not true."
Former Aston Villa assistant manager Kevin MacDonald is the bookmaker's favourite for the post having been heavily linked by a number of national newspapers, while ex-Hull and Preston boss Phil Brown on Friday touted himself for the role via various media outlets.
Yet intrigue continues to surround any possible role for Ali in Blackburn's plans.
After failing to make the grade as a footballer in England, the former Arsenal trainee enjoyed a playing stint with Spanish minnows Murcia.
He enrolled in the FA's COACH Bursary Programme, a scheme aimed at addressing under-representation among ethnic minorities in high-level coaching positions.
The FA sponsored Ali while taking his coaching badges and he informed the governing body's official website, www.thefa.com, of his lofty ambitions.
Ali said: "My goal is to become the first British Asian Premier League manager.
"I also want to take a country to the World Cup when I have qualified and the 2022 tournament in Qatar is my goal."
