Barry Maguire is determined to keep hold of his Dundee starting spot after “stupid wee niggles” derailed his time at Dens Park.
After immediately coming into the team after arriving on loan from Motherwell, injury kept the midfielder out for three games.
And a switch of system by manager Gary Bowyer saw opportunities dry up on his return with Jordan McGhee joining Lyall Cameron in the centre of the pitch.
But McGhee has since undergone surgery on a knee injury and has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
“Being back in the team is personally brilliant for me,” Maguire said.
“I was out for a few games with injury and then was on the bench.
“It was just two innocuous injuries, stupid wee niggles that can happen to anybody.
“But it was hard to take, especially with the form I was in and the run I was on.
“So when you get back in, it just gives you that incentive to stay back in.”
Support from McGhee
But doing so at the expense of carpool buddy McGhee isn’t the way Maguire wanted to regain his place in the team.
“It was good to be back in the starting line-up on Saturday but obviously it was difficult because of the circumstances with Jordan,” Maguire added.
“It is never nice to see that happen to anyone, especially someone I am close with.
“I drive up with him every day along with Lee Ashcroft. As a team-mate you just have to get behind him.
“We are still getting support from him coming to the games.
“To start with, he seemed all right. He was up, walking about and although he was limping a bit, he managed to get in the shower.
“But there were times when he said it felt weak and I think you could just tell he probably knew himself that he had done something serious.
“Everybody was devastated for him and he will be a big miss for the team.
“He has been brilliant since I came to the club. Playing with him and watching him as well, I can really appreciate what he does as he plays in my position.
“The boys did find it tough to take but everyone was messaging him.
“I have been texting him regularly as well just checking he is all right because I have been in that position myself a few times.
“It is tough but all the boys are behind him.”
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