Dundee’s Scott Allan made a successful comeback for the club’s Under-20s side on Monday night.
The 25-year-old on-loan Celtic player had last featured for the Dark Blues’ first team on September 23 in the draw at Kilmarnock.
Prior to that game, the midfielder had been struggling for several weeks with a groin problem – Allan had to be withdrawn after just 38 minutes at the start of that month during a match with Rangers at Ibrox.
He underwent surgery to repair the hernia and made his long-awaited comeback at Dens for the development team against Motherwell.
Allan came off after 68 minutes as he understandably tired following his extended lay-off but if he suffers no reaction, he could be available for next Saturday’s crunch clash with Kilmarnock.
Meanwhile, Dundee’s Cammy Kerr admits that being dropped from the team has made him a stronger person.
The full-back had been a virtual ever-present since being handed a start in the 2016 New Year derby against Dundee United by former boss Paul Hartley.
This season, lifelong Dark Blues fan Kerr was honoured to be named club vice-captain by present manager Neil McCann.
However, following the draw at Kilmarnock on September 23, the defender then found himself on the bench for the following game against Hearts.
He did come on against the Jambos but was then an unused sub for the subsequent matches against Celtic and Partick Thistle.
After that, he was dropped from the squad altogether for the home match with Motherwell and was again an unused sub against Hamilton.
Kerr was finally recalled to the starting line-up against Hibs on Saturday with the 22-year-old defender also captaining the team in skipper Darren O’Dea’s absence.
McCann’s men suffered another defeat at Easter Road but Kerr insisted he was still glad to return to the team.
He said: “I was delighted to be back.
“It is probably the first time it has happened to me being out of the team since I broke through.
“It probably makes you stronger as a person, although you don’t realise it at the time.
“But it makes you tougher mentally knowing that you have to stay switched on and when your chance comes, you have to be ready.”