Mark O’Hara insists the Dundee players are looking to end 2016 on a high by securing a festive trio of wins before the winter break.
The Dark Blues take on Hearts tonight at Dens before a game against Partick Thistle next Wednesday with the triple header ending with the visit of Tayside rivals St Johnstone on Hogmanay.
O’Hara, who made his return from groin surgery last week against Celtic at Parkhead, is determined Dundee will bring in the New Year with maximum points in the bag.
The midfielder said: “It is a big three games for us and we are targeting three wins to get up the table.
“We need to pick up as many points as we can before the winter break. “Hopefully, then we can relax a bit.
“It is very tight just now. A couple of defeats and you are down the bottom – a couple of wins and you are in the top six.
“Hearts are comfortable in fourth and that is the area we are aiming at. We have the players here and we shouldn’t be where we are at the moment.
“All we need is a couple of wins, a bit of confidence and momentum and we can kick on.”
O’Hara is also looking to kick on after a longer-than-anticipated injury break after surgery on a hernia.
It was the longest spell he has had on the sidelines and now he is just desperate to win back his place in the starting XI.
He said: “I am absolutely delighted to be back.
“It has been so frustrating the last couple of months sitting on the sidelines.
“Originally I was meant to be out for two or three weeks but it took about eight weeks in total.
“There was fluid in it and the swelling wouldn’t go down. I could run but it was still sore when I kicked a ball.
“It was more annoying than anything as it was just holding me back so I am delighted to return to the team.
“Before this injury, the longest I had been out was three or four weeks with an ankle injury.
“So eight weeks was a very long time.
“It was annoying as I had been enjoying a good run in the team, probably the longest I had ever had.
“I had played every game bar one when I was suspended so it was very frustrating.
“It is also really hard watching the team when you just want to help them out.
“Results and performances have picked up in recent weeks so hopefully I can now get back in the team.”
Prior to his return as a sub at Celtic, O’Hara had only just started training again but he was still delighted to be thrown back in at the deep end.
He added: “I only had two training sessions and then the manager spoke to me on the Friday and asked if I felt OK.
“I was chapping at the bit and it was tough one to go into.
“I felt we did all right against Celtic and it was good to get involved.”
Dundee will face a Hearts side still looking for their first win under new boss Ian Cathro.
And O’Hara believes Dundee can capitalise on the pressure within the Jambos ranks to break that duck.
He added: “They are still trying to impress him. It is a new manager with new plans and it is a big chance for us.
“They might see it as chance to come here and win and we will have to make sure they don’t do that.
“That (the pressure) is going to build. If we could get a win here he might worry about things.
“The longer it takes, the harder it is. We need to feed off that frustration especially with us being at home.”
