Steven Doris admits the first abdominal injury of his career has been hard to stomach.
The striker has endured a frustrating campaign since joining Dundee from Arbroath in July.
He had to play catch-up in fitness terms after missing most of the Dark Blues’ pre-season and then struggled to establish himself in the team.
Eventually, former Dens Park boss John Brown allowed the player to go back on loan to Gayfield in December. However, his stay with Paul Sheerin’s side was cut short when he picked up his injury.
Doris has battled back to fitness under Paul Hartley’s new management regime, being put through his paces by fitness coach Tam Ritchie.
Even on game days, the player has undergone gruelling sessions before and afterwards out on the pitch.
However, Doris insists he is just desperate to play a part between now and the end of the season, as shown again by the fact that when the rest of the senior squad had a day off on Friday, he was in working hard on his fitness with the youths.
The 25-year-old said: “When John Brown was manager, he just wanted me to go out to Arbroath, get games and top my fitness up.
“He hoped I would hit the ground running when I came back here but it was just a bit of bad luck that I got my injury when I did.
“I tore an abdominal muscle. It happened during a shooting drill on a Friday. I just went to take a shot and I felt a twinge in my stomach.
“Straight away, I knew something bad had happened. I went to see a specialist who told me that sort of injury sometimes takes a long time to heal as you are using that part of the body all the time.
“It is the first time in my career I have had a problem like that. So it has taken a lot longer than I expected but I am back training now and hopefully I can kick on, get back in with the boys and play some games.
“I have been working with Tam since he came in on my fitness. He has topped up the rest of the boys’ fitness but I think it was something I really needed after being out for such a long time.
“We also have ice baths now. I had experienced them before when I was at St Johnstone so it doesn’t bother me but some of the boys don’t like to go in.
“But if they don’t, they get fined so everybody is up for them!”
Doris revealed that Hartley has made him feel wanted at the club and he is just looking to repay the manager for having faith in him.
He said: “Since Paul has come in as the new gaffer, he and Tam have been a big help to me. It is encouraging that they want me back so hopefully I can get involved at least on the bench.
“The manager has had a wee talk with me and he says he doesn’t want me to rush back. But I have had a whole week’s training now and it feels fine.
“It has not been the season I was hoping for so far I am just desperate to get back and show everyone what I can do.”