Premiership leaders Aberdeen may have won their last eight league games and kept a remarkable eight clean sheets during that run but Dundee boss Paul Hartley is more concerned with the same number of players he may have missing at Pittodrie tomorrow.
The Dark Blues, who recorded a morale-boosting 4-1 victory over Motherwell last Saturday, will travel north with an injury-ravaged squad.
Hartley, who recently bolstered his roster with the addition of Bulgarian defender Kosta Gadzhalov, admitted he is still looking to bring in further reinforcements and he hasn’t ruled out a return for Craig Wighton.
The teenage striker’s short-term loan at Brechin ends this weekend and the manager is weighing up whether he will farm the youngster out again.
Hartley said: “Kyle Letheren is still out and will not be in the squad this weekend.
“Gary Irvine went off with a rib injury while James McPake remains out with a similar problem.
“Jim McAlister has a groin issue, Kevin McBride still has a thigh injury while Simon Ferry is working his way back after his ankle injury.
“David Clarkson has now turned his ankle in training and is touch and go for the Aberdeen game.
“Paul McGowan is suspended because of his bookings against Dundee United.
“Craig Wighton’s last game for Brechin is this weekend and we will look at it again after that.
“Even if we send him back out again, we will have a recall on him.
“We are though still trying to bring a couple in to bolster the numbers.
“I think we are down to 18 players.
“So we are probably looking to bring in a midfielder and another striker.”
One of the reasons Hartley is hoping to add another front man to his squad is because veteran striker Peter MacDonald left the club last week.
The manager paid tribute to one of last season’s Championship-winning heroes and also revealed the reasons for “Peaso’s” departure.
Hartley said: “Peaso is 34 and wasn’t playing regular first-team football.
“He had an injury for a number of months and I felt it was best and he probably did as well that he tried to get an extra year added on to play as long as he can.
“I couldn’t guarantee him first-team football here.
“The other thing was that Morton offered him a coaching role which is probably his next step after he stops playing football.
“They were also able to offer him an 18-month deal.
“Peaso did really well during his time at Dundee but we just couldn’t guarantee him first-team football.”
Hartley then turned his attention to the game against league leaders Aberdeen.
Dundee were the last team to beat the Dons in the Scottish Cup tie at the end of November at Dens but Hartley insists they are still the best outfit the Dark Blues have faced this season.
He said: “Defensively and the attacking side they are very good and overall as a unit I’d say they are the best.
“Being a unit is their biggest strength, that’s what they are.
“They are solid at the back, they don’t lose many goals, and have a real attacking threat with pace and movement to score goals.
“They have given themselves a great chance.
“They will want to keep it as quiet as they can, they won’t say too much and play it low key.
“That’s within their rights to do that but we’re nearly in February and they’re right in there.
“I think Aberdeen are a terrific team and have a good chance. I think they are the best team we’ve played this season.
“They are eight unbeaten and have had eight clean sheets behind them but we have caused them problems in the games we have played against them.”
Hartley insisted that while most pundits will still regard Celtic as favourites to go on and win the Premiership, he believes Aberdeen are genuine contenders for the title.
The former Dons player said: “Aberdeen are at the top of the league on merit.
“I don’t think many people would have expected Aberdeen to be four points in front at this stage.
“So it’s up to Celtic now to try and catch them.
“I know Celtic have games in hand but you have to win them.
“It’s great for Scottish football that Aberdeen, Dundee United and Inverness are still in there.
“People thought this season would be really boring and the Championship would be the competitive league.
“But Hearts are running away with that and it’s our league where there’s real competition.
“Celtic will still be favourites but I think if you look at Aberdeen this is as good a chance as they’ll ever have.”