Even if Stephen O’Donnell’s appeal against Sunday’s derby red card is successful, Dundee could still be without another key player against Ross County on Saturday.
Winger Nicky Riley had to leave the field at Tannadice with a recurrence of his long-running hamstring problem.
Manager Barry Smith reported: ”We will just have to wait and see with Nicky. Hopefully it’s not too bad because he can be an important player for us.
”We’ve probably pushed him in a bit but he trained all last week and felt fine. So we thought he would be OK because he did everything he possibly could apart from play in a game.
”It was obviously a plus having him in the side and it was just unfortunate that he had to come off. Hopefully, it will not prove too serious.”
Smith admitted everyone at the club was still feeling the pain of the derby defeat but he urged the fans to stick with the team as they make the adjustment to life in the SPL.
Smith said: ”We’re all hurting after losing the derby. The players and management team are feeling it just as much as the fans.
”The supporters were incredible again on Sunday. To take over 5000 to Tannadice shows what they’re all about. I just ask them to stay with us because it is going to be a difficult season.
”The team also need to stand up now and fight their corner. They worked extremely hard in the derby but at times it was as individuals.
”Now we need to work together collectively and show a one-for-all attitude on the pitch. We have to stick together because that’s the way we’ll get results.”
Meanwhile, striker Leighton McIntosh has gone out on loan to Third Division side Montrose.
The 19-year-old has moved to Links Park on a temporary transfer, initially to January, and he made his debut at Hampden in the 2-2 draw with Queen’s Park on Saturday.
McIntosh said: ”The deal was only completed late on Friday night and I just met everyone before the game on Saturday. I need a run of matches to progress my career and I was unlikely to get that in the SPL due to the competition for places.
”Being involved in the first team there is great but playing for 15 minutes here and there was not going to develop me as much as playing 90 minutes every week is.
”I have been involved in a few Scotland under-19 games and hopefully playing at Montrose and scoring a few goals for them will keep my name out there. I am hoping that this move will allow me to establish myself as a Dundee player when I go back.”