A Ninewells porter involved in a row with a Dundee footballer faces an anxious wait to learn his fate.
Raymond Conway was suspended from work last month following a spat with defender James McPake in the hospital.
The Celtic supporter said he made a “light-hearted” comment about the game and did not mean to upset the player but he faces another three weeks off work while an investigation runs its course.
It is understood the argument related to a comment Mr Conway made about the derby-day tackle that left Mr McPake with a serious knee injury.
Mr McPake was hurt early in the first half of Dundee’s 2-1 win when making a challenge on Dundee United’s John Rankin.
He received lengthy treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off and rushed to hospital.
Mr Conway said he had not even watched the derby game but had been attempting to engage Mr McPake in “banter” before the operation.
He said: “It was just an off-the-cuff remark about the challenge.
“I said ‘I heard it was a bad challenge’. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
Mr Conway previously told The Courier the confrontation had happened when he had been moving Mr McPake to a ward.
He did not have time to report the matter to managers and was suspended when he turned up to work the following day.
Mr Conway, who had not previously been suspended in 13 years in the job, said some investigations have been known to take nine weeks.
He said it is a long wait but he expects to be able to return to work when it is concluded.
He is being supported by his Unite union representative.
An NHS Tayside spokeswoman said: “We do not comment on matters relating to individual members of staff.”
Dundee FC said the club would be making no comment on the matter.