Dundee boss Barry Smith is set to play two trialists in the heart of his defence in tonight’s Tayside derby friendly against St Johnstone.
Former Hibs and Brechin City player Ewan Moyes and Neil McGregor, who was released by Dunfermline at the end of last season, will be given the chance to impress at centre-half in the absence of the injured first-choice pairing of Craig McKeown and Rhys Weston.
“Craig pulled up in training on Monday with a groin problem and he will not be playing, while Rhys has a foot injury which will rule him out,” said Smith. “So, I will have a couple of trialists in against St Johnstone in the shape of Ewan Moyes, who I know from my time at Brechin, and Neil McGregor. They will come in and it is up to them to show me what they are capable of.”
Ross Chisholm, who has been impressive so far in Dundee’s first two pre-season games against Turriff and Formartine, is also set to miss out with a mystery injury.
Meanwhile, Steven Milne insists he will have nothing to prove when he lines up against his former Saints team-mates. Milne was at McDiarmid at the start of last season but in what he describes as a “bolt from the blue” was then told he was free to leave.
However, he harbours no hard feelings against Saints boss Derek McInnes, insisting he has nothing but respect for the highly-rated manager.
Milne, who has netted twice in Dundee’s opening warm-up games, is now hoping to continue that good form against Saints.
“The main thing in our first two matches was getting some game time under our belts, but there were good performances and results as well,” he said. “There looks like there will be a lot of competition for places, which is good as it keeps everyone on their toes.Test”We now have a big jump up in standard against St Johnstone but we have to test ourselves against these types of teams. Hopefully, we can give a good account of ourselves and make it a close game.
“Last year, I did well in Saints’ pre-season games and then, just two or three days before the campaign started, the manager told me that there were a couple of clubs interested in me and I was free to go.
“It was a bolt from the blue for me as I expected to be involved. But I am still on good terms with the manager. I was disappointed but I have nothing but respect for Derek and it was not a problem that is just the way it goes in football.
“I do not have a point to prove to him on Wednesday night he knows what I can do. I have spoken to him since I left St Johnstone and even when I joined Dundee he congratulated me, said it was a good move and he was sure I would do well.
“I am now looking forward to playing against my old team-mates. I am still good friends with a lot of people at St Johnstone like Steven Anderson and Dave Mackay.”
Perth boss McInnes is again set to run the rule over trialists Danijel Subotic and Marcus Haber after both strikers impressed last week on Saints’ short tour in Ireland.
His only injury worry is ex-Falkirk ace Carl Finnigan, who suffered severe blisters in the Emerald Isle.For more on the Saints’ preparation, click here.