Gary Bowyer has a “double-edged sword” to deal with as manager at Dundee right now.
Form is good heading to Greenock Morton this Saturday with six wins from seven games and few injury worries.
Long-term absentees Adam Legzdins, Lee Ashcroft and Cillian Sheridan have all taken their places on the bench in recent games.
Now young loanee Ben Williamson has returned to training as well as top scorer Alex Jakubiak after minor injuries.
Jordan McGhee has missed the entire season so far but he’s returned to full training this week and is in contention for the weekend.
The only player missing from training this week has been youngster Luke Strachan due to illness.
“We had an internal game this week and it was really competitive. People are really competing hard for places,” Bowyer said.
“It can be one of the hardest parts of being a manager, having to leave players out, but it’s also one of the best bits because you have a lot of options.
“It’s a double-edged sword.
“We want competition for places and that’s what we’ve got.”
Jordan McGhee in goal?
Bowyer is delighted to see McGhee back available after a long-standing Achilles issue flared up in pre-season.
In his time at Dens Park, the former Hearts man has shown his versatility in a number of positions, including as a box-to-box midfield revelation in Dundee’s last promotion-winning season.
And that versatility only adds to Bowyer’s options.
“In the first week we were here, I was very impressed with him,” the Dundee boss added.
“We played a couple of practice games where he played centre-half and he looked very comfortable there.
“The conversations we’ve had with him he’s talked about playing in midfield as well.
“But Jordan is the type of lad where if you asked him to play in goal he’d do it.
“We’re delighted we’ve nailed down his injury and glad to get him back in the squad.
“He’ll be such an addition because he can play right-back, left-back, centre-back and was a goalscoring midfielder the last time the club got promoted.
“We will get stretched by injury or suspension at times this season so it will be vital to have players who can play in different positions.”
More to come in?
All these options, though, won’t stop Bowyer looking for more signings until the transfer window shuts at the end of August.
Joe Grayson’s arrival on loan from Barrow last week was his fourth addition this summer after Williamson and Zach Robinson’s loan moves and Tyler French’s switch from Wrexham.
Asked if he was still in the market for new players, Bowyer replied: “Definitely. I think everybody is until the window shuts.
“But that internal game we played means the level we need players to be to improve the squad is high.
“Anybody that does come in has to improve what we’ve already got.”
So, are there any deals close to completion?
“I wouldn’t say close,” Bowyer replied.
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